GIFT  OF 


FROM    THE    PRESIDENT'S    OFFICE 
TO  THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 


i  WHY  ARE  WE  HERE? 

An  Answer 


BY 

ERVIN  A.  RICE 


THIRD  EDITION 


PRESS  OF 

P.  F.  PETTIBONE  &  Co. 
CHICAGO 


COPYRIGHT,  1913 

BY 
ERVIN  A.  RICE 


Right  is  the  seed  within  the  sod 

That  knows  not  why,  but  thro'  the  clod 

Uplifts  itself  to  seek  for  God. 

Right  is  the  impulse  of  the  soul 
TJiat  stirs  thro'  all  the  sense  control 
Insisting  on  a  nobler  goal. 

Whatever  helps  you  to  the  height 
Of  your  best  self,  and  gives  you  light 
To  see  God's  truths — that  thing  is  right. 

— ELLA  WHEELER  WILCOX, 


311413 


"I  am  to  set  forth  my  thought;  let  him  who  shall 
have  approved  it  abide  by  it,  but  let  him  to  whom  it 
shall  not  appear  reasonable  reject  it." 

PETRARCH. 


QUOTATION  REFERENCES. 


The  figures  refer  to  the  page  of  the  book  indicated 
by  the  letter. 

A..   FIRST  PRINCIPLES Herbert  Spencer 

B.  SCIENCE  AND  THEISM.   An  address  by  Prof.  A.  E.  Dolbear 

C.  THE  UNSEEN  UNIVERSE   .      .  Balfour,  Stewart  and  Tait 

D.  THE  ASCENT  OF  MAN Henry  Drummond 

E.  THE  SOUL  IN  HUMAN  EMBODIMENTS,  Cora  L.V.  Richmond 

F.  HARMONICS  OF  EVOLUTION     .      .      .    Florence  Huntley 

G.  REINCARNATION Jerome  A.  Anderson 

H.  BRAIN  AND  PERSONALITY  .      .      .  Wm.  Hanna  Thomson 
I.    THE  GREAT  PSYCHOLOGICAL  CRIME,    .      .      .     "T.  K." 

J.   THE  GREAT  WORK "T.  K." 

K.  THE  ASCENT  OF  LIFE Stinson  Jarvis 

L.    MORALS  AND  DOGMA  .  Albert  Pike 


WHY  ARE  WE  HERE? 


There  comes  a  time,  when,  with  earth's  best  love 
us, 

To  feed  the  heart's  great  hunger  and  desire, 
We  find  not  even  this  can  satisfy  us; 

The  soul  within  us  cries  for  something  higher. 

What  greater  proof  need  we  that  we  inherit 

A  life  immortal  in  another  sphere  f 
It  is  the  homesick  longing  of  the  spirit 

That  cannot  find  its  satisfaction  here. 

— ELLA  WHEELER  WILCOX. 


PREFACE. 

iHE  average  person  is  too  deeply  en- 
grossed with  the  commercial  and  so- 
cial details  of  every-day  life  to  pay 
much  attention  to  the  laws  underlying  and 
governing  human  existence  here  and  here- 
after. The  contents  of  this  book  will  not 
appeal  with  any  special  interest  to  those 
who  are  satisfied  with  "one  world  at  a 
time,"  or  accept  the  dogmas  of  their  par- 
ticular religion  without  question  or  curi- 
osity as  to  whether  they  constitute  a  logical, 
rational  explanation  of  this  life,  or  furnish 
a  satisfactory  and  reasonable  solution  of  the 
problem  of  life  to  come. 

There  are  many,  however,  who  are  in- 
tensely interested  in  trying  to  find  a  system 
of  philosophical  or  religious  teaching  that 
commends  itself  by  its  reasonableness,  its 
logic  and  its  application  to  every  phase  of 
human  life.  To  such  truth  seekers  the  views 
herein  presented  are  modestly  submitted  for 
their  thoughtful  consideration.  No  claim  is 
made  by  the  writer  for  originality  so  far  as 

13 


14  Why  Are  We  Here? 

the  .  ideas  themselves  are  concerned,  but 
merely  for  placing  together  simply  and  con- 
nectedly, what  seem  to  be  the  best  and  most 
essential  teachings  from  various  philoso- 
phies, so  as  to  form  a  brief,  general  outline 
of  the  system  of  natural  and  spiritual  laws 
governing  human  life. 

The  publication  of  this  book  being  purely 
a  personal  matter,  not  for  profit,  and  at  the 
repeated  urgings  of  many  friends,  a  few 
words  of  a  personal  nature  may  be  excus- 
able. From  early  childhood  I  have  been 
deeply  interested  in  the  mysteries  of  human 
existence,  and  curious  to  learn  the  purpose 
of  life;  whence  we  came,  why  we  are  here 
and  whither  we  are  going.  Desire  grew  with 
the  years,  to  study  the  great  religious  and 
philosophic  teachings  relating  to  primal  and 
ultimate  things,  to  sift  out  with  an  impartial 
and  unprejudiced  mind,  those  gems  of 
thought  and  wisdom  which  appealed  to  my 
reason  and  which,  taken  together,  might  es- 
tablish a  logical  and  consistent  system  that 
would  afford  a  satisfactory  and  reasonable 
explanation  of  the  inequalities  and  incon- 
sistencies which  we  find  all  about  us. 


Why  Are  We  Here?  15 

I  have  been  singularly  favored  by  per- 
sonal contact  and  acquaintance,  with  some 
of  the  clearest  minds  and  most  exalted  char- 
acters of  the  present  generation.  I  have  re- 
ceived words  of  wisdom  from  the  lips  of 
seers  and  mystics  with  whom  it  has  been  an 
honor  to  associate.  I  have  delved  for  facts, 
theories,  revelations,  doctrines,  anything 
that  would  bring  to  light  here  or  there  a 
stone  of  truth  that  might  be  built  into  the 
structure  I  had  in  mind.  My  aim  has  been 
to  "hold  fast  that  which  is  good,"  believing 
that  while  no  one  line  of  teaching  held  all 
the  truth,  probably  every  line  possessed 
some  element  of  it. 

I  have  given  much  study  to  the  salient 
points  of  the  great  religions  and  have  made 
careful,  personal  investigation  and  study  of 
the  modern  cults,  including  Spiritualism, 
Theosophy  and  Psychosophy.  I  have  found 
and  correlated  such  points  of  agreement  and 
consistency  as  were  entitled  to  be  considered 
in  establishing  a  reasonable  basis  of  ethics 
and  an  explanation  of  life. 

Places  or  conditions  of  reward  and  pun- 
ishment never  appealed  to  me  as  plausible  or 
sufficient  reasons  for  being  good.  Coming 


16  Why  Are  We  Here? 

into  frequent  contact  with  instances  of  good 
people  suffering  poverty  and  distress,  while 
others  who  violated  all  the  laws  of  morals 
and  ethics  lived  in  luxury  and  apparent  hap- 
piness, impressed  me  strongly  that  there 
must  be  some  better  explanation ;  that  there 
must  be  immutable  and  beneficent  laws  gov- 
erning these  affairs  as  truly  and  justly  as  all 
the  material  universe  is  governed  by  natural 
and  inexorable  laws.  It  seemed  to  me  that 
as  physical  evolution  shows  fundamental 
laws  that  develop  higher  and  more  complex 
and  perfect  forms,  this  evidence  of  design 
and  purpose  should  have  its  counterpart  in 
the  spiritual  development  of  mankind ;  that 
such  analogous  spiritual  laws  would  not  only 
account  for  the  inequalities  of  human  life, 
but  would  furnish  a  rational,  scientific  basis 
of  morals,  apart  from  any  theological  sys- 
tem of  rewards  and  punishments. 

In  the  search  for  these  laws,  I  feel  that  I 
have  been  successful,  not  as  a  discoverer  in- 
deed, but  as  one  who  has  been  extremely  for- 
tunate in  coming  into  contact  with  those  who 
possessed  the  desired  knowledge,  and  I  have 
merely  tried  to  outline  and  indicate  these 
physical  and  spiritual  laws  in  a  simple  way 


Why  Are  We  Here?  17 

without  any  effort  to  elaborate  upon  them. 
My  intentionos-to- emphasize  the  fact  that 
there  is  a  clear  and  dominant  purpose  every- 
where evident  in  the  universe,  and  that  all 
physical  and  spiritual  laws  are  beneficent 
in  their  very  nature  and  tend  forever  to- 
ward the  fulfilment  of  that  divine  purpose. 

I  acknowledge  with  fervent  gratitude,  my 
profound  obligations  to  many  teachers  of 
truth  who  have  furnished  me  with  enlight- 
enment. No  responsibility  rests  upon  them, 
however,  for  this  book,  for  while  certain 
principles  and  teachings  are  theirs,  the 
adaptation,  use  and  juxtaposition  with  oth- 
ers are  mine.  While  the  sponsors  for  the 
best  ideas  may  not  be  pleased  to  see  them 
placed  in  the  same  company  with  other 
views,  I  have  tried  to  be  clear  and  just  in  my 
expression  of  those  ideas,  and  if  I  have 
failed  in  this,  the  responsibility  is  mine. 

In  short,  I  have  gathered  and  combined 
from  many  sources,  and  present  this  outline 
of  my  philosophy  of  life  for  the  benefit  of 
those  who  may  be  eagerly  groping  for  truth 
without  the  unusual  advantages  of  associa- 
tions which  it  has  been  my  great  privilege  to 
enjoy.  As  an  hypothesis  it  will  be  judged 


18  Why  Are  We  Here? 

by  its  efficiency  in  solving  the  problems  of 
life.  To  me  it  is  logical,  consistent  and  sat- 
isfying, and  I  hope  it  may  be  as  helpful  and 
uplifting  to  others  as  it  has  been  to  me. 

Being  only  an  outline,  it  may  stimulate 
the  reader's  desire  to  study  more  fully  along 
the  lines  of  thought  it  suggests.  To  those 
who  would  pursue  the  subject  further,  I 
earnestly  urge  the  careful  study  of  the 
books  from  which  I  quote.  There  are  in- 
numerable books  more  or  less  related  to  the 
subject  that  are  interesting  and  helpful,  but 
more  or  less  varying,  confusing  and  incon- 
sistent. Those  quoted  from  are  strong,  clear 
and  instructive.  If  I  could  choose  only  two 
books  for  my  life  companions  they  would  be 
"The  Great  Work"  and  "The  Soul  in  Hu- 
man Embodiments." 

There  will  always  remain  unsolved  prob- 
lems and  unanswered  questions,  but  the 
teachings  outlined  herein  and  further 
elaborated  and  defined  in  the  works  referred 
to,  will  furnish  a  key  to  right  living,  a  rea- 
son for  human  existence  and  a  glimpse  of 
the  infinite  beneficence  of  the  divine  plan. 


Why  Are  We  Here?  19 

May  this  little  book  bring  peace  and  satis- 
faction to  the  inquiring  mind,  and  justify 
its  own  existence  as  we  must  all  justify  ours. 


ERVIN  A.  RICE. 


6616  Yale  Avenue,  Chicago, 
June,  1913. 


All  are  but  parts  of  one  stupendous  whole 
Whose  body  Nature  is  and  God  the  soul; 

******* 
All  nature  is  but  art  unknown  to  thee; 
All  clwnce,  direction,  which  thou  canst  not  see; 
All  discord,  harmony  not  understood; 
All  partial  evil,  universal  good; 
And  spite  of  pride,  in  erring  reason's  spite, 
One  truth  is  clear,  Whatever  is,  is  right. 

— Pope's  Essay  on  Man. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE     SEVEN    PROPOSITIONS:       GOD,     THE    SOUL,    EMBODI- 
MENTS, SPIRIT  STATES,  FUNDAMENTAL  PRINCIPLES, 
FREE  WILL,  PERSONAL  RESPONSIBILITY. 


THE  principal  elements  in  the  hy- 
pothesis presented  in  the  following 
chapters,   consist   of  seven   definite 
propositions. 

1.  There  is  an  infinite  and  universal  in- 
telligence permeating  and  pervading  the 
whole  material  universe,  directing  and  gov- 
erning all  physical,  mental  and  spiritual 
growth  and  development  through  immutable 
and  inexorable  laws  which  are  inherently 
beneficent.  This  supreme  consciousness  is 
God,  and  the  universe  is  the  expression  or 
manifestation  of  this  infinite,  omniscient, 
omnipotent,  omnipresent,  eternal  entity, 
i  2.  The  human  soul  is  an  immortal,  eternal, 
finite  entity,  in  quality  "like  unto  God"  but 
finite  instead  of  infinite  in  degree  and  scope. 
The  soul  is  to  the  human  body  what  God  is 
to  the  universe. 

3.    The  expressions  or  manifestations  of 
the  soul  in  earth  life  consist  in  a  series  of 

23 


24  Why  Are  We  Here? 

life  experiences  or  successive  embodiments. 
This  does  not  mean  reincarnation  or  trans- 
migration as  generally  understood,  but  a 
succession  of  lives  for  acquiring  knowledge 
and  experience,  each  embodiment  being  an 
advance  in  soul  growth  upon  the  preceding 
one.  These  successive  lives  are  necessary  to 
give  exact  justice  to  all  souls  and  to  achieve 
victory  over  all  the  temptations,  trials  and 
ordeals  of  earthly  experience. 

4.  Between  the  successive  embodiments 
of  the  soul  there  are  spirit  states  which  are 
states  of  fruition,  where  the  experiences  of 
the  preceding  life  in  the  body  are  assimila- 
ted, and  the  lessons  of  that  life  made  a  part 
of  the  soul's  knowledge.     Communication 
between  those  in  the  spirit  and  those  in  the 
body  is  possible  and  common,  but  communi- 
cation through  mediumship  is  not  always  to 
be  commended  and  is  often  harmful,  degrad- 
ing and  destructive.    There  is  a  better  way, 
by  bringing  one's  self  into  direct  contact 
and    communion    with    the    spirit    world, 
through  right  living  and  moral  and  spiritual 
development. 

5.  N  There  are  in  Nature  two  great  under- 
lying principles  always  at  work.    One  is  con- 


Why  Are  We  Here?  25 

structive  and  impels  ever  and  always  toward 
physical,  mental,  moral  and  spiritual  per- 
fection. The  other  is  destructive  and  strives 
unceasingly  toward  disintegration,  disease 
and  death.  These  two  principles  operate  in 
the  moral  and  spiritual  world  as  well  as  in 
the  physical,  and  man  must  conform  his  life 
to  Nature's  constructive  principle  if  he 
would  attain  independent  spiritual  unf old- 
ment,  self-control,  poise  and  mastership. 

6.  Man  is  endowed  with  free  wiU  and 
choice,  within  the  limits  of  natural  laws. 
While  he  is  governed  by  these  great  laws  and 
influences,  such  as  heredity,  environment  and 
compensation,  he  may  by  exercise  of  free 
will  and  choice  modify  and  surmount  them, 
not  by  breaking  through  but  by  conforming 
to  them.    Man  is  not  therefore  the  creature 
of  fate  or  circumstances  but  is  potent  to  be- 
come the  master  of  his  own  destiny. 

7.  Every  human  being  is  personally  re- 
sponsible to  himself  and  to  God,  for  the  use 
he  makes  of  his  opportunities  to  develop  his 
spiritual    capacities.      This    responsibility 
cannot  be  shirked  or  shifted  by  any  scheme 
of  salvation  but  must  be  borne  by  the  indi- 
vidual, until  in  the  " fullness  of  time"  he 


26  Why  Are  We  Here*? 

shall  achieve  the  highest  degree  of  spiritual 
unfoldment. 

It  is  not  intended  to  maintain  these  propo- 
sitions by  argument  in  these  pages,  but  sim- 
ply to  present  sufficient  reasoning  to  make 
them  clearly  understood. 

The  reader  is  invited  to  divest  his  mind  of 
previous  prejudice,  if  possible,  and  with  an 
open  mind,  consider  the  propositions  upon 
their  merits,  and  their  relations  to  each  other 
upon  their  consistency.  Their  value  as  a 
whole  will  be  determined  by  their  reason- 
ableness and  their  rational  application  to 
the  explanation  of  the  inequalities  of  human 
life,  the  prevalence  of  evil  and  the  uses  of 
pain  and  sorrow. 


Build  on  resolve,  and  not  upon  regret, 

The  structure  of  the  future.    Do  not  grope 
Among  the  shadows  of  old  sins,  but  let 

Thine  own  soul's  light  shine  on  the  path  of  hope 
And  dissipate  the  darkness.     Waste  no  fears 
Upon  the  blotted  record  of  lost  years, 
But  turn  the  leaf  and  smile,  oh,  smile,  to  see 
The  fair  white  pages  that  remain  for  thee. 

Prate  not  of  thy  repentance.    But  believe 
The  spark  divine  dwells  in  thee.    Let  it  grow. 

That  which  the  unpreaching  spirit  can  achieve 
The  grand  and  all  creative  forces  know. 

They  will  assist  and  strengthen  as  the  light 

Lifts  up  the  acorn  to  the  oak  tree's  height. 

Thou  hast  but  to  resolve,  and,  lo!  God's  whole 

Great  universe  shall  fortify  thy  soul. 

— ELLA  WHEELER  WILCOX. 


CHAPTER  II. 

SCIENTIFIC  RESEARCH  ;  THE  UNKNOWABLE  ;  THE  ATOM 
CONCLUSIONS  OF  SCIENTISTS;  UNIVERSAL  INTELLI- 
GENCE IN  NATURE;  EVIDENCE  OF  INTELLIGENT 
DESIGN;  SYMPATHETIC  VIBRATIONS;  GOD 

IN  THE  UNIVERSE. 


AY  study  of  the  unknown  must  natur- 
ally begin  with  the  known.  A  student 
of  occult,  religious  or  philosophical 
principles  should  first  prepare  his  mind  by 
obtaining  an  intelligent,  comprehensive 
grasp  of  the  material  universe  and  the 
known  laws  and  principles  which  govern  it. 
Earnest  study  of  modern  science  in  its  vari- 
ous branches  broadens  the  vision,  inspires 
with  awe,  develops  the  idea  of  a  purposeful 
design,  and  opens  the  way  for  the  reception 
of  spiritual  truth. 

A  superficial  consideration  of  the  facts 
and  laws  of  physical  science  often  leads  to 
the  materialistic  conclusion  that  unintelli- 
gent force  acting  upon  inert  matter  is  quite 
sufficient  to  account  for  all  the  wonders  of 
Nature,  and  that  to  ascribe  an  intelligent 
cause  is  unecessary  and  unwarranted  by 

29 


30  Why  Are  We  Here? 

Science.  A  more  profound  study,  however, 
will  almost  certainly  bring  the  mind  around 
to  an  acknowledgment  that  back  of  all  the 
laws,  systems  and  harmonies  of  Nature, 
there  must  be  postulated  an  intelligent  di- 
rection, to  sufficiently  account  for  them. 
This  has  been  generally  accepted  by  modern 
scientists  under  Spencer's  term  of  "The 
Unknowable. " 

By  continually  seeking  to  know  and  being  continu- 
ally thrown  back  with  a  deepened  conviction  of  the 
impossibility  of  knowing,  we  may  keep  alive  the  con- 
sciousness that  it  is  alike  our  highest  wisdom  and  our 
highest  duty  to  regard  that  through  which  all  things 
exist  as  "the  Unknowable."  (A  123.) 

The  Unknowable,  however,  is  not  neces- 
sarily unthinkable.  The  finite  human  mind 
may  not  comprehend  or  "know"  infinite 
space,  infinite  time  or  infinite  intelligence, 
but  it  may  perceive  the  idea  both  intellectu- 
ally and  spiritually.  There  may  be  percep- 
tion without  comprehension. 

The  atheistic  or  materialistic  scientist  is 
becoming  rare.  The  latest  scientific  conclu- 
sions as  to  the  very  nature  of  matter  itself 
are  destructive  to  the  materialistic  view. 
Even  the  idea  of  the  inert  atom  as  the  final, 


Why  Are  We  Here?  31 

indivisible  particle  of  matter  is  strongly  op- 
posed by  the  theory  that  the  atom  itself  is 
composed  of  electric  "ions,"  or  is  only 

a  vortex  ring  of  ether  in  the  ether,  and  its  properties 
are  due  to  the  character  of  the  motion  which  is  em- 
bodied in  it  in  addition  to  the  inherent  qualities  of  the 
ether  out  of  which  they  are  made.  (B.) 

As  the  ring  possesses  energy,  energy  must  have 
been  spent  to  produce  it,  but  no  physical  energy  such 
as  we  have  any  experience  with,  could  possibly  pro- 
duce a  vortex  ring  in  a  frictionless  medium,  much  less 
in  the  ether  and  one  must  postulate  some  different 
energy  in  the  universe  as  the  primal  condition  for 
organizing  energy  into  a  vortex  ring.  *  *  *  Choice  as 
well  as  energy  is  exhibited  here.  *  *  *  Consciously  di- 
rected, super-physical  energy  must  ~be  assumed  to  give 
a  rational  account  of  the  apparition  of  the  first  atom. 
(B.) 

Scientific  reasoners  are  everywhere  reach- 
ing the  same  conclusion. 

Consider  the  position  into  which  Science  has 
brought  us.  We  are  led  by  scientific  logic  to  an  un- 
seen, and  by  scientific  analogy  to  the  spirituality  of 
this  unseen.  In  fine  our  conclusion  is  that  the  visible 
universe  has  been  developed  by  an  intelligence  resi- 
dent in  the  unseen.  (C  221.) 

Science  does  not  know  indeed  what  forces  are;  it 
only  classifies  them.  Here,  as  in  every  deep  recess  of 
physical  Nature,  we  are  in  the  presence  of  that  which 


32  Why  Are  We  Here? 

is  metaphysical,  that  which  bars  the  way  imperiously 
at  every  turn  to  a  materialistic  interpretation  of  the 
world.  (D  339.) 

Thus  the  profound  scientist  of  today  finds 
himself  compelled  by  the  logic  of  the  situa- 
tion, to  recognize  an  Unseen  Directing  In- 
telligence at  the  heart  of  things,  sufficient  to 
produce  and  account  for  all  the  phenomena 
of  Nature.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  for  the 
ordinary  thinker  to  dig  so  deeply,  or  analyze 
so  thoroughly,  in  order  to  find  convincing 
testimony  to  this  all  pervading  intelligence. 
No  matter  in  which  direction  one  may  de- 
vote his  study  and  investigation,  there  he 
will  find  marvelous,  awe-inspiring  evidence 
of  this  Universal  Mind. 

The  wonders  of  Astronomy,  the  unerring, 
mathematical  accuracy  of  the  laws  govern- 
ing the  movements  of  the  planets  in  a  sys- 
tem, and  of  systems  within  our  observation, 
are  overwhelming  in  their  magnificence,  and 
impressive  beyond  words  in  their  implica- 
tion of  a  Supreme  Architect  of  the  Uni- 
verse. The  revelations  of  the  microscope 
are  no  less  grand  and  wonderful  than  those 
of  the  telescope.  In  the  field  of  the  infinitely 
little  we  find  the  same  mathematical  pre- 


Why  Are  We  Here?  33 

cision,  the  same  infallible  order,  the  same 
perfect  adaptation  to  use  and  circumstances 
as  is  displayed  in  the  unlimited  field  of 
larger  things. 

Study  the  structure  of  a  plant,  a  leaf,  a 
flower,  and  note  how  perfectly  it  is  con- 
structed for  the  fulfilment  of  its  purpose. 
Observe  the  anatomy  of  any  insect  or  ani- 
mal, and  see  how  completely  its  owner  is 
equipped  for  the  requirements  of  his  ex- 
istence. Examine  the  physical  body  of  man 
with  its  various  organs  each  exactly  adapted 
to  perform  its  functions.  See  how  Nature 
makes  use  of  mechanical  principles  in  build- 
ing her  structures,  and  mark  how  strength, 
symmetry,  beauty  and  proportion  are  pre- 
served, together  with  the  best  economy  of 
weight  and  space  for  the  desired  purpose. 

Whether  in  the  geometrical  formation  of 
the  crystal  or  the  evolution  of  the  most  com- 
plex forms,  from  Ameba  up  to  Man  there  is 
shown  everywhere  and  in  every  department 
of  Nature  a  marvelously  accurate  and  per- 
fect adaptation  of  means  to  an  end,  of  organ 
to  function ;  the  design  is  adequate  to  the  de- 
mand. These  statements  are  indeed  mere 
platitudes  to  the  cultured  mind,  but  they 


34  Why  Are  We  Here? 

have  a  part  and  place  in  demonstrating  in- 
telligent, constructive  design  in  the  physical 
universe. 

The  earnest  student  of  laws  and  forces  in 
any  department  of  science  is  startled,  awed 
and  profoundly  stirred  by  the  marvelous 
harmonies  everywhere  disclosed.  The  won- 
derful system  of  harmonies  of  sound  known 
to  musicians  needs  only  to  be  mentioned.  In 
the  realm  of  light  and  color,  similar  laws  of 
order  and  harmony  prevail.  Manufacturers 
of  perfumes  recognize  a  like  system  of  har- 
monious combinations  in  the  preparation  of 
their  products.  The  laws  of  atomic  weights 
and  combinations  of  chemicals  are  a  source 
of  intense  interest,  showing  likewise  the 
prevalence  of  an  exact,  orderly,  harmonious 
system.  All  these  systems  of  harmony  are 
arranged  with  mathematical  accuracy  and 
precision,  and  deeply  impress  the  idea  of  an 
intelligent  design  upon  the  mind  of  the  stu- 
dent. 

When  we  speak  of  matter  we  are  apt  to 
think  only  of  tangible  material  such  as  we 
can  see,  touch  or  recognize  by  any  of  our 
physical  senses.  We  must  not  forget  that 


Why  Are  We  Here?  35 

air  is  matter  and  that  we  live  completely  im- 
mersed in  matter.  The  solid,  liquid  and 
gaseous  forms  of  matter  we  can  weigh, 
measure  and  manipulate,  but  there  are 
more,  and  still  more,  tenuous  forms  that  we 
can  neither  appreciate  with  our  senses  nor 
demonstrate  with  our  most  delicate  mechan- 
ical instruments. 

In  these  finely  attenuated  forms  of  matter 
lie  many  secrets  of  Nature,  that  will  one  day 
be  revealed  by  the  inquisitive  mind  of  man. 
Science  informs  us  that  all  matter  is  in  con- 
stant motion.  The  atoms  and  molecules  are 
vibrating  and  rotating  with  the  same  free- 
dom and  activity  as  the  suns  and  planets, 
and  the  laws  controlling  their  action  are 
equally  perfect,  equally  unchangeable  and 
equally  the  work  of  the  Universal  Intelli- 
gence. 

Vibratory  or  wave  motion  is  a  general 
method  in  Nature,  of  transmitting  energy. 
Sound  is  the  most  familiar  instance  of  this. 
Light  is  another  and  Electricity  a  third. 
Only  when  the  lengths  of  the  different  vibra- 
tory waves  are  in  correct,  mathematical  re- 
lationship toward  each  other  can  harmony 
be  produced. 


36  Why  Are  We  Here? 

If  two  pianos  are  tuned  alike  and  a  chord 
is  struck  on  one,  the  corresponding  chord  is 
sounded  on  the  other  instrument.  This  is 
Sympathetic  Vibration  and  is  the  key  to 
many  interesting  phenomena.  A  fragile 
wine  glass  may  be  shattered  by  a  continuous 
sounding  of  its  pitch  note  upon  a  violin. 
Iodide  of  Nitrogen  may  be  exploded  by  cer- 
tain vibrations  of  the  "G"  string  on  a  bass 
viol.  Columns  of  marching  infantry  break 
step  when  crossing  bridges,  for  fear  of  com- 
municating the  vibration  of  a  cadenced  step 
to  the  structure,  to  such  an  extent  as  to  be 
dangerous.  Wireless  telegraphy  employs 
the  principle  of  Sympathetic  Vibration,  and 
greater  wonders  will  appear  as  man  more 
clearly  comprehends  and  learns  to  use  his 
knowledge  of  these  finer  forces  and  princi- 
ples. The  secret  of  telepathic  communica- 
tions lies  in  sympathetic  vibrations  between 
the  brains  of  two  persons  perfectly  attuned 
and  harmonized  with  each  other. 

The  proposition  of  Universal  Intelligence 
pervading  and  animating  the  material  uni- 
verse seems  clear.  Whether  it  is  an  ethical 
intelligence  or  not  will  be  considered  in  an- 
other chapter. 


Why  Are  We  Here?  37 

Whatever  be  the  title  or  designation  of  that  Infinite 
Being,  God  is  only  known  within  the  Soul,  and  only 
understood  in  its  innermost  and  divinest  conception; 
this  is  what  we  mean  by  the  name  God.  There  can 
be  no  other  Infinite ;  there  can  be  no  other  Omniscient, 
Omnipotent,  Infinite  Being:  the  Deity.  (E  10.) 


Within  the  silent  rock  exist 

A  billion  yearning  lives. 
Man  is  a  petty  egotist 

To  think  he  only  strives, 
To  think  he  only  struggles  up 

To  God  through  toil  and  pain. 
He  is  but  one  drop  in  a  cup 

Filled  from  the  mighty  main. 

The  flowers  have  tender  little  souls 

That  love,  repine,  aspire. 
Each  star  that  on  its  orbit  rolls 

Feels  infinite  desire. 
The  diamond  longs  to  scintillate 

When  hid  beneath  the  sod. 
The  universe  is  animate 

With  consciousness  of  God. 

ELLA.  WHEELER  WILCOX. 


CHAPTER  III. 

EVOLUTION;  THE  TENDENCY  TOWARD  HIGHER  FORMS; 

AN  ASCENDING  ENERGY  RECOGNIZED;  DRUMMOND^S 

ADVANCE  ON  DARWINISM  ;  A  DIVINE  PURPOSE 

SHOWN;    UNIVERSAL   INTELLIGENCE    IS 

ETHICAL. 


WHILE  the  idea  of  evolution,  in  the 
general  sense  of  gradual  growth  and 
development  as  a  method  of  prog- 
ress in  Nature,  is  very  old,  Evolution  in  its 
more  modern  acceptation  as  the  mode  of  cre- 
ation, is  comparatively  recent.  As  now  gen- 
erally understood  and  accepted  by  physical 
scientists,  the  term  includes  the  two  great 
functions  of  all  plant  and  animal  life,  Nutri- 
tion and  Reproduction,  as  basic  factors  in 
the  problem  of  physical  development,  while 
Natural  Selection  and  Sexual  Selection  are 
regarded  as  the  great  determining  forces  as 
to  the  direction  which  differentiation  shall 
take,  in  producing  new  or  improved  forms. 

Science  for  centuries  devoted  itself  to  the  catalogu- 
ing of  facts  and  the  discovery  of  laws.  Each  worker 
toiled  in  his  own  little  place — the  geologist  in  his 
quarry,  the  botanist  in  his  garden,  the  biologist  in  his 
laboratory,  the  astronomer  in  his  observatory,  the  his- 
torian in  his  library,  the  archaeologist  in  his  museum. 

41 


42  Why  Are  We  Here? 

Suddenly  these  workers  looked  up ;  they  spoke  to  one 
another;  they  had  each  discovered  a  law;  they  whis- 
pered its  name.  It  was  Evolution.  (D  8.) 

Evolution  is  distinctively  a  recital  of  the 
processes  and  stages  through  which,  and  by 
which,  all  physical  nature  as  we  see  it  today 
has  developed  or  evolved  from  the  primitive, 
nebulous  condition  of  matter,  or  what  is 
often  referred  to  as  " Primeval  Chaos."  It 
is  a  story  of  material  progress,  growth  and 
development  and  has  to  do  with  the  laws  and 
forces  governing  material  things.  As  man 
has  grasped  the  meaning  of  those  physical 
laws  and  forces,  he  has  been  compelled  to 
recognize  the  Universal  Mind  working  in, 
through,  and  behind  them  all  toward  some 
ultimate  purpose. 

Physical  Science  has  discovered,  demon- 
strated and  accepted  one  tremendous  f  act- 
that  from  some  Unknown  Cause  the  course 
of  evolutionary  development  is  upward; 
that  there  is  a  potent  " Cosmic  Urge"  con- 
stantly and  unceasingly  pressing  forward  to 
the  production  of  higher  physical  forms  of 
life.  It  is  true  there  are  instances  of  rever- 
sion and  degradation,  but  these  are  cases 
where  the  natural  operation  of  the  great 


Why  Are  We  Here?  43 

laws  of  progress  have  been  interfered  with 
and  overcome  by  other  laws  of  circumstance 
and  environment. 

Many  do  not  accord  to  Physical  Science 
this  advanced  position,  and  it  is  true  that 
physical  matter  and  blind  force  are  the  lim- 
itations beyond  which  many  physical  scien- 
tists will  not  venture.  These  still  regard  in- 
tellect as  the  result  of  chemical  action  and 
combustion  of  brain  cells,  and  deny  Univer- 
sal Intelligence  in  physical  Nature.  It  is 
only  fair,  however,  to  credit  Physical  Sci- 
ence with  the  most  generally  accepted  con- 
clusions of  its  latest  and  best  thinkers,  and 
these  acknowledge  that  the  physical  laws 
and  operations  of  Nature  indicate  an  intel- 
ligence everywhere  present,  though  they 
may  choose  to  give  it  no  better  name  than 
"The  Unknowable." 

An  ascending  energy  is  in  the  universe  and  the 
whole  moves  on  with  one  mighty  idea  and  anticipation. 
The  aspiration  in  the  human  mind  and  heart  is  but 
the  evolutionary  tendency  becoming  conscious.  *  *  * 
Men  begin  to  see  an  undeviating  ethical  purpose  in 
this  material  world,  a  tide,  that  from  eternity  has 
never  turned,  making  for  perfectness.  *  *  *  The  su- 
preme message  of  science  to  this  age  is  that  all  Nature 
is  on  the  side  of  the  man  who  tries  to  rise.  (D  340,  341. ) 


44  Why  Are  We  Here? 

In  his  " Ascent  of  Man,"  Prof.  Drum- 
mond  has  done  well  to  emphasize  the  fact 
that  Evolution  is  an  ascending  process,  and 
that  God  in  his  processes  of  evolution  has 
not  been  the  hard,  pitiless  being  that  the 
cruel,  selfish  doctrine  of  "The  Survival  of 
the  Fittest"  would  appear  to  indicate. 

The  theory  of  Evolution  has  itself  been  an 
evolution  and  its  development  is  still  in 
progress.  Darwinism,  based  on  Nutrition, 
or  the  Desire  for  Pood,  as  the  one  funda- 
mental factor,  makes  of  Evolution  simply 
"A  Struggle  for  Existence,"  "A  Struggle 
for  Self"  and  the  " Survival  of  the  Fittest" 
—a  hard,  cold,  automatic  process  without  an 
adequate  purpose,  and  the  acme  of  selfish- 
ness. Drummond  strikes  a  higher  note  when 
he  introduces  the  function  of  Reproduction 
as  a  co-ordinate  factor  with  Nutrition,  and 
shows  the  development  of  Altruism  increas- 
ing in  degree  as  higher  forms  are  reached 
and  passed,  attaining  its  culmination  in 
man. 

Drummond,  through  Reproduction,  or  the 
Desire  to  Reproduce  One's  Kind,  makes  of 
Evolution  "A  Struggle  for  Others"  as  well 
as  "A  Struggle  for  Self,"  which  is  a  distinct 


Why  Are  We  Here?  45 

advance  on  the  thought  of  Darwin.  While 
he  admits  the  magnitude  and  universality  of 
the  " Struggle  for  Self"  idea,  he  claims 
equal  value  and  prominence  for  the  "  Strug- 
gle for  Others"  principle,  even  in  the  early 
stages  of  development,  and  clearly  demon- 
strates that 

in  the  world's  later  progress — under  the  name  of 
Altruism — it  assumes  a  sovereignty  before  which  the 
earlier  Struggle  sinks  into  insignificance.  (D  13.) 

The  first,  the  Struggle  for  Life,  is  throughout,  the 
Self -regarding  function ;  the  second,  the  Other-regard- 
ing function.  The  first,  in  lower  Nature,  obeying  the 
law  of  self -preservation,  devotes  its  energies  to  feed 
itself;  the  other,  obeying  the  law  of  species-preserva- 
tion, to  feed  its  young.  While  the  first  develops  the 
active  virtues  of  strength  and  courage,  the  other  lays 
the  basis  for  the  passive  virtues,  sympathy  and  love. 
In  the  later  world  one  seeks  its  end  in  personal  ag- 
grandizement, the  other  in  ministration.  One  begets 
competition,  self-assertion,  war;  the  other  unselfish- 
ness, self-effacement,  peace.  One  is  Individualism, 
the  other  Altruism.  (D  19.) 

Nothing  is  in  finer  evidence  as  we  rise  in  the  scale 
of  life  than  the  gradual  tempering  of  the  Struggle 
for  Life.  Its  slow  amelioration  is  the  work  of  ages, 
may  be  the  work  of  ages  still,  but  its  animal  qualities 
in  the  social  life  of  Man  are  being  surely  left  behind ; 
and  though  the  mark  of  the  savage  and  the  brute  still 
mar  its  handiwork,  these  harsher  qualities .  must  pass 
away.  In  that  new  social  order  which  the  gathering 


46  Why  Are  We  Here? 

might  of  the  altruistic  spirit  is  creating  now  around 
us,  in  that  reign  of  Love  which  must  one  day,  if  the 
course  of  Evolution  holds  on  its  way,  be  realized,  the 
baser  elements  will  find  that  solvent  prepared  for 
them  from  the  beginning  in  anticipation  of  a  higher 
rule  on  earth.  (D  35.) 

Whenever  the  scheme  was  planned,  it  must  have 
been  foreseen  that  the  time  would  come  when  the 
directing  of  part  of  the  course  of  Evolution  would 
pass  into  the  hands  of  Man.  A  spectator  of  the  drama 
for  ages,  too  ignorant  to  see  that  it  was  a  drama,  and 
too  impotent  to  do  more  than  play  his  little  part,  the 
discovery  must  sooner  or  later  break  upon  him  that 
Nature  meant  him  to  become  a  partner  in  her  task, 
and  share  the  responsibility  of  the  closing  acts.  * 
He  holds  the  dominion  of  the  world  of  lower  life. 
He  exterminates  what  he  pleases;  he  creates  and  he 
destroys;  he  changes;  he  evolves;  his  selection  re- 
places natural  selection ;  he  replenishes  the  earth  with 
plants  and  animals  according  to  his  will.  *  *  By 
the  same  decree,  he  finds  himself  the  guardian  and 
the  arbiter  of  his  personal  destiny  and  that  of  his 
fellow-men.  The  moulding  of  his  life  and  of  his  chil- 
dren's children  in  measure  lie  with  him.  (D  38.) 

This  later  view  of  Evolution  as  a  method 
of  creation  discloses  a  glimpse  of  the  Divine 
Purpose  of  physical  evolution — the  upbuild- 
ing of  a  world  for  Man  to  live  in,  and  the  de- 
velopment of  a  physical  organism  suitable 
for  the  use  and  occupancy  of  a  human  soul. 
In  doing  this  much,  Physical  Science  has 


Why  Are  We  Here?  47 

earned  our  gratitude  even  though  it  stops  at 
Nutrition  and  Reproduction  and  overlooks 
more  potent  forces.  Had  Physical  Science 
undertaken  to  explain  how  or  why  the  pri- 
mal cell  happened  to  be  endowed  with  the 
Desire  for  Food,  and  the  Desire  for  Repro- 
duction, the  limits  of  physical  demonstra- 
tion must  have  been  crossed  and  it  would  no 
longer  have  been  Physical  Science,  but 
something  broader  and  more  complete 
known  to  modern  students  as  Natural  Sci- 
ence. 

Why  is  Evolution  upward?  What  is  this 
irresistible  agency  moving  with  the  majestic 
power  of  an  infinite  glacier,  as  constantly 
and  persistently  as  gravitation,  always  and 
forever  forward  and  upward  in  the  scale  of 
life?  It  is  the  Almighty  Will  of  God. 
There  is  no  other  adequate  answer. 

Because  Evolution  is  upward,  because  all 
development  of  physical  nature  has  been  to- 
ward higher  forms,  because  this  Infinite 
Will  has  evolved  all  forms  of  life  for  the  use 
and  benefit  of  Man,  because  the  evolution  of 
animal  life  has  reached  its  highest  type  in 
Man  and  because  Man  alone  is  endowed  with 
intellectual  and  spiritual  powers,  giving  him 


48  Why  Are  We  Here? 

dominion  over  all  other  animate  and  inani- 
mate things  of  Earth,  this  Infinite  Will  is 
shown  to  be  not  only  conscious  and  intelli- 
gent but  beneficent  and  ethical.  God  is 
therefore  not  only  Infinite  Intelligence,  but 
Infinite  Goodness — Infinite  Love. 


Asleep,  awake,  by  night  or  day, 
The  friends  I  seek  are  seeking  me; 

No  wind  can  drive  my  bark  astray, 
Nor  change  the  tide  of  destiny. 

What  matter  if  I  stand  alone? 

I  wait  with  joy  the  coming  years; 
My  heart  shall  reap  where  it  has  sown, 

And  garner  up  its  fruit  of  tears. 

The  waters  know  their  .own,  and  draw 
The  brook  that  springs  in  yonder  heights. 

So  flows  the  good  tvith  equal  law 
Unto  the  soul  of  pure  delights. 

The  stars  come  nightly  to  the  sky 

The  tidal  wave  unto  the  sea; 
Nor  time,  nor  space,  nor  deep,  nor  high, 

Can  keep  my  own  away  from  me. 

— JOHN  BURROUGHS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BEGINNINGS;   SOLAR   SYSTEMS   IN   ALL   STAGES;   POB*B 

EUREKA;  PLANETS  FURTHER  EVOLVED  THAN  OURS; 

ADVENT  OF  MAN  AS  A  FACTOR  IN  EVOLUTION; 

INADEQUACY   OF  DRUMMOND'S  POSITION; 

A  HIGHER  VIEW;  SPIRITUAL  FORCES 

BACK  OF  EVOLUTION. 


IT  IS  futile,  perhaps,  to  seek  for  the  be- 
ginnings of  things,  either  material  or 
spiritual,  but  the  zetetic  mind  of  man 
cannot  refrain  from  wondering  how  the  uni- 
verse came  into  being,  whether  a  human  soul 
is  created  at  the  birth  of  every  child,  and 
what  is  the  purpose  of  that  soul's  existence. 
As  to  the  material  universe,  we  rest  upon 
the  fact  that  matter  is  indestructible  and 
has  always  existed  in  some  form.  It  is 
scarcely  credible  to  suppose  that  the  entire 
universe  was  created  (in  the  sense  of  formed 
or  evolved)  at  the  same  time.  Solar  systems 
with  their  central  suns  and  attendant  plan- 
ets and  satellites  have  been  evolved,  have 
fulfilled  their  purpose  and  have  been  re- 
solved again  into  their  primal  atoms  during 
the  eternal  past.  Others  are  in  process  of 
formation  and  in  all  stages  of  development 

51 


52  Why  Are  We  Here? 

* 

at  the  present  time.  In  the  countless  aeons 
of  time  to  come,  these  systems  will  reach  the 
climax  of  their  development  and  return  to 
their  primal  atomic  condition,  to  be  again 
re-formed  into  solar  systems.  From  the  in- 
finite past  through  the  eternal  future  this 
process  goes  on. 

The  reader  who  loves  to  speculate  upon 
these  matters  will  enjoy  reading  Edgar  A. 
Poe's  " Eureka:  A  Prose  Poem"  published 
in  1848.  Poe  wrote  of  this  essay:  "What  I 
here  propound  is  true: — therefore  it  cannot 
die :  or  if  by  any  means  it  be  now  trodden 
down  so  that  it  die,  it  will  'rise  again  to  the 
Life  Everlasting.'  Nevertheless  it  is  as  a 
Poem  only  that  I  wish  this  work  to  be 
judged  after  I  am  dead." 

Two-thirds  of  a  century  have  elapsed 
since  " Eureka"  was  written — a  period  of 
time  excelling  all  .others  in  scientific  ad- 
vancement and  extension  of  human  knowl- 
edge— and  yet  this  essay  stands  without  a 
peer,  in  its  magnificent  beauty  as  an  exam- 
ple of  original  fancy  and  scientific  reason- 
ing. It  may  be  faulty  and  imperfect  in 
some  respects,  but  it  is  a  masterpiece  in  its 


Why  Are  We  Here?  53 

grasp  of  teleology  and  reveals  the  inspira- 
tion of  genius. 

As  our  planet  is  evolved  from  primal  mat- 
ter until  it  is  suitable  for  the  habitation  of 
man,  and  for  the  unfoldment,  development 
and  expression  of  the  human  soul,  so  are  the 
innumerable  planets  of  innumerable  sys- 
tems prepared  for  similar  purposes.  Some 
are  in  their  infancy^and  mankind  has  not 
yet  appeared  upon  them.  Others  like  our 
Earth  are  in  the  vigor  of  youth  and  the  souls 
inhabiting  them  are  just  coming  into  full  in- 
tellectual stature.  Still  other  planets  have 
advanced  to  where  our  Earth  may  be  a  mil- 
lion years  hence,  and  their  people  have  at- 
tained such  a  stage  of  spirituality,  and  their 
physical  conditions  are  such,  that  a  glimpse 
thereof  would  seem  to  us  like  a  vision  of 
" Celestial  Glory." 

Could  it  be  possible  for  you  to  perceive  the  inhab- 
itants of  Jupiter,  *  *  *  you  would  see  beings  whom 
you  would  fall  down  and  worship,  but  they  are  not 
to  be  worshipped,  they  are  only  higher  expressions  of 
Souls  like  yourselves.  (E  93.) 

If  the  expressions  on  the  planet  Jupiter  are  such 
that  the  grossest  forms  there  would  transcend  your 
highest  ideal,  your  visions  of  fairyland,  your  concep- 
tions of  Paradise ;  if  matter  is  so  subjugated  by  spirit 


54  Why  Are  We  Here? 

and  by  the  law  of  the  planetary  life  of  Jupiter  that 
all  labor  is  performed  by  the  rarest  mechanism  and 
thought;  if  even  the  perfection  of  all  mechanical  im- 
pulses, inventions  and  delicate  intricacies  of  life  gov- 
erning Mars  are  superseded  by  the  still  more  subtle 
and  wonderful  processes  known  in  Jupiter,  then  there 
could  be  no  conception  in  the  mind  of  man  on  Earth 
of  what  the  expression  of  life  on  Saturn  is.  (E  94.) 

When  Nature  had  evolved  the  highest 
type  in  the  animal  kingdom — physical  Man 
—when  the  house  was  ready  for  the  occu- 
pant, then  entered  the  Human  Soul,  taking 
possession  at  this  point  and  becoming  the 
most  important  factor  in  the  scheme.  When 
Man,  with  his  highly  evolved  brain  capacity, 
came  upon  the  field  of  action,  a  new  element 
was  introduced  and  the  progress  of  Evolu- 
tion not  only  greatly  accelerated  but  di- 
rected into  new  and  higher  channels.  Here 
began  the  growth  and  development  of  the 
Human  Soul,  and  Evolution  proceeded 
along  intellectual,  moral  and  spiritual  lines 
as  well  as  the  purely  physical. 

Drummond  discovered  a  much  higher 
force  at  work  in  physical  evolution  than  did 
Darwin,  but  both  fail  to  give  credit  to  the 
intellectual,  moral  and  spiritual  force  of  the 
Human  Soul  after  the  appearance  of  man 


Why  Are  We  Here?  55 

upon  the  earth.  Drummond  did  in  fact  rec- 
ognize that  "the  directing  of  part  of  the 
course  of  Evolution  would  pass  into  the 
hands  of  man" ;  "that  Nature  meant  him  to 
become  a  partner  in  her  task  and  share  the 
responsibility  of  the  closing  acts" ;  that  "his 
selection  replaces  natural  selection"  and 
that  he  "finds  himself  the  guardian  and  the 
arbiter  of  his  personal  destiny,  etc.";  but 
still  bases  his  whole  contention  upon  the 
purely  physical  Law  of  Reproduction  and 
its  development  into  the  Struggle  for  Oth- 
ers. 

It  is  indeed  strange  that  so  fine  a  rea- 
soner,  so  profound  a  thinker,  schooled  in  a 
life-time  of  study,  should  have  stopped  at 
this  point  when  the  next  step  to  the  higher 
plane  was  so  apparent.  Up  to  the  time  the 
first  Human  Soul  became  embodied  on 
Earth,  Darwin's  and  Drummond 's  laws 
were  paramount  and  effectual,  but  with  the 
Human  Soul  came  a  new  element  of  force, 
destined  to  become  in  time  the  master  of  all 
physical  laws  and  forces — Intellectual  and 
Spiritual  Power. 

Darwinism  discovers  no  higher  purpose  in  indi- 
vidual life  than  a  contribution  to  species.  It  offers  no 


56  Why  Are  We  Here? 

other  reward  for  conformity  to  natural  law  than  sur- 
vival of  the  " Physically  Fittest."  It  sets  no  higher 
ideal  before  human  intelligence  than  a  healthy  body 
and  material  comfort.  To  the  aspiring  soul  of  man 
it  promises  nothing  better  than  total  extinction  when 
its  contribution  to  species  is  accomplished. 

Against  this  unwarranted  and  demoralizing  doc- 
trine, intelligence  rebels.  It  refuses  to  accept  as  final 
those  assumptions  which  degrade  life  and  life's  pur- 
poses to  the  level  of  the  physical  functions  and  appe- 
tites. (F  126.) 

Drummond  postulates  a  moral  order  in 
Nature,  but  aims  to  establish  love  and  altru- 
ism as  the  direct  results  of  physical  laws 
and  functions.  His  omission  of  spiritual 
laws  and  forces  can  only  be  ascribed  to  his 
orthodox  religious  training,  and  a  determi- 
nation to  adhere  strictly  to  what  is  generally 
accepted  as  scientific  reasoning,  and  to  avoid 
precipitating  theological  controversy.  That 
he  glimpsed  the  spiritual  side  of  the  ques- 
tion is  evident,  and  its  avoidance  was  appar- 
ently intentional. 

He  holds  that  morality,  love  and  altruism  come  into 
the  world  as  a  result  of  the  physical  pain  and  the 
physical  sacrifice  of  the  female  half  of  all  life.  He 
fixes  upon  the  enforced  physical  sacrifice  of  the  female 
in  reproduction,  as  the  one  and  only  cause  in  Nature 
for  the  evolution  of  love.  He  thus  conceives  the  ex- 
traordinary idea  that  Nature  embraces  an  absolutely 


Why  Are  We  Here?  57 

diabolical  plan  for  forcing  love  upon  the  human  fam- 
ily; for,  to  quote  directly,  the  moralist  says:  "Love 
is  forced  upon  the  world  at  the  point  of  a  sword." 
Thus  a  great  teacher  of  spiritual  truth  not  only  fails 
to  find  spiritual  principles  governing  physical  evolu- 
tion, but  he  insists  that  the  physical  functions  create 
the  love  relationship  and  the  ethical  phenomena  of 
human  life.  (F  132.) 

He  has  advanced  a  theory  of  love  which  history  and 
universal  experience  disprove.  He  has  so  in- 

terpreted the  love  relation  of  man  and  woman  as  to 
contravene  the  highest  aspirations  and  ideals  of  every 
thinking  man  and  woman.  (F  133.) 

The  earnest  student  of  spiritual  laws, 
however,  soon  finds  himself  compelled  to  ac- 
cept spiritual  principles  and  forces  as  com- 
ing first  in  the  great  plan — as  underlying 
and  preceding  all  physical  laws  and  opera- 
tions. As  thought  directs  action,  as  purpose 
precedes  performance,  so  the  spirit  of  God, 
the  spirit  of  man,  spiritual  elements  and 
forces,  are  manifested  and  expressed 
through  physical  phenomena. 

Man  alone  represents  a  principle  in  Nature  which 
confers  self-consciousness,  personal  identity  and  the 
capacity  for  persistence  as  an  individualized  intelli- 
gence. *  *  *  Every  physical  thing  in  this  physical 
world  is  but  a  manifestation  of  the  potent  and  more 
enduring  spiritual  elements  and  forces.  (F  138.) 

One  who  studies  the  spirit  of  physical  matter  dis- 
covers, first,  that  all  the  operations  of  individuals  in 


58  Why  Are  We  Here? 

the  lower  kingdom  are  intelligent.  He  finds  that  all 
activities  of  animals  are  governed  by  conscious  intelli- 
gence resident  in  the  spirit.  He  discovers,  further, 
that  the  voluntary  acts  of  men  are  directly  referable 
to  that  highest,  and  apparently  indestructible,  entity, 
the  self-conscious  intelligence  or  soul.  (F  140.) 

Man,  physically  embodied,  represents  all  the  prin- 
ciples, properties  and  elements  in  Nature.  He  there- 
fore represents  all  of  the  energies,  capacities  and  ac- 
tivities of  the  kingdom  below  his  own.  To  these  he 
adds  psychical  powers,  or  the  energies  and  capacities 
of  the  Soul  Element.  It  is,  therefore,  declared  upon  the 
basis  of  long  investigation  and  repeated  experiment 
and  demonstration,  that  evolution  is  the  result  of  spir- 
itual laws  and  forces.  It  is  also  held  that  the  ethical 
phenomena  of  human  life  have  their  origin  in  the 
energies  and  activities  of  the  Soul.  This  position,  as 
will  be  seen,  denies  a  solely  physical  basis  of  evolu- 
tion, whether  the  phenomena  considered  are  physical, 
spiritual  or  psychical.  It  denies  that  the  evolution 
of  man  is  the  sole  result  of  feeding,  breeding  and  bat- 
tie.  It  denies  that  man,  a  spiritual  being,  a  living 
soul,  is  the  automatic  result  of  the  digestive  organs  or 
of  physical  reinforcement  from  without.  (F  140, 
141.) 

Thus,  the  higher  science  considers  the  evolution  of 
man,  and  classifies  all  his  activities,  as  results  and  ef- 
fects of  natural,  spiritual  and  psychical  laws  and 
forces.  This  being  true,  physical  nature  is  a  mani- 
festation of  spiritual  nature.  Morality  is  an  effect  of 
psychical  forces  and  not  of  physical  forces.  Love  is 
an  activity  of  the  soul  and  not  an  efflorescence  of  the 
physical  functions.  (F  141.) 


Why  Are  We  Here?  59 

The  reader  who  appreciates  this  higher 
view  of  Evolution  and  desires  to  follow  it 
through  in  detail,  should  not  miss  reading 
" Harmonics  of  Evolution"  which  is  a  " phil- 
osophy of  individual  life,  based  upon  Nat- 
ural Science  as  taught  by  modern  masters  of 
the  law." 


0,  sometimes  comes  to  soul  and  sense 
The  feeling  which  is  evidence 
That  very  near  about  us  lies 
The  realm  of  spirit  mysteries. 

— J.  G.  WHITTIER. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE    SOUL;   EXPRESSION   IN   MATTER;    INVOLUTION;    THE 

SOUL'S  DESIRE  FOR  EXPRESSION  ;  DUALITY ; 

PRIMAL  EMBODIMENTS. 


THE  Soul  is  an  eternal,  immortal, 
finite  entity.  In  an  illustrative  sense 
the  Soul  is  to  the  human  body  what 
God  is  to  the  universe.  The  idea  that  a  new 
soul  is  created  every  time  a  child  is  born, 
and  may  enjoy  or  achieve  immortality,  is  il- 
logical and  unscientific.  Nothing  immortal 
can  have  a  beginning  in  mortality.  The  Soul 
being  immortal  must  ha,ve  always  existed. 
With  an  eternal  future  before  it,  there  is 
also  an  eternal  past  behind  it. 

The  Supreme  Consciousness  of  the  Universe  is  God, 
the  supreme  consciousness  of  man  is  the  Soul.  These 
make  up  the  consciousness  of  the  Universe.  (E  10.) 
The  Soul  is  related  to  God  as  the  finite  to  the  in- 
finite, the  resemblance  being  in  quality  but  not  in 
scope.  *  *  *  It  is  uncreate  as  God  is ;  but  as  the 
Soul  is  finite  it  must  forever  be  encompassed  by  the 
Infinite.  (E  11.) 

God  and  Souls  are  the  only  entities ;  God 
infinite  and  Souls  finite.  It  is  the  Soul  that 
perceives  God  since  it  is  of  the  same  nature, 
but  differing  in  degree. 

63 


64  Why  Are  We  Here? 

The  individual  expression  of  the  Soul  is  under  the 
government  of  the  individual  Soul,  but  the  whole  life 
of  the  universe  is  under  the  government  of  the  Soul 
of  the  universe,  God.  (E  14.) 

As  God  finds  expression  in  the  material 
universe,  so  the  soul,  in  its  primal  state  of 
pure  being,  seeks  expression  as  the  result  of 
the  impulsion,  or  volition,  from  the  Soul  to- 
ward activity. 

There  are  intermediate  conditions  be- 
tween the  state  of  being  and  the  state  of  ex- 
pression— a  process  of  preparation  of  the 
Soul  for  expression  in  material  life,  through 
a  long  series  of  degrees  of  gradual  infolding 
of  the  Soul  from  the  absolute  state — an  in- 
volution. 

There  are  gradations  of  involution  for  the  Soul  as 
there  are  gradations  of  evolution  for  the  body :  not  in- 
stantly was  the  atom  ready  to  produce  the  form  of 
man  as  the  first  generic  expression  of  life  upon  the 
earth;  not  instantly  is  the  Soul  ready,  with  the  first 
step  of  involution,  for  expression  in  matter.  There 
are  degrees;  each  step  being  somewhat  of  a  with- 
drawal from  the  state  of  perfectness;  gradually  the 
light  and  splendor  of  perfection  which  belongs  to  the 
Soul  must  be  veiled,  in  order  that  existence  in  mat- 
ter may  be  expressed.  (E  21.) 

A  fundamental,  a  priori  principle,  inher- 
ent in  spiritual  beings  is  the  desire  for  ex- 


Why  Are  We  Here?  65 

pression.  The  possessor  of  a  special  talent 
or  power  can  never  rest  content  until  that 
faculty  or  potentiality  finds  expression  in 
action.  The  artist  and  sculptor  must  ex- 
press themselves  in  forms  of  beauty  or  col- 
or ;  the  poet  is  impelled  to  find  expression  in 
verse,  for  his  " divine  fire";  the  musician, 
the  singer  and  the  orator  charm  and  sway 
the  multitudes  in  giving  expression  to  their 
particular  abilities. 

This  desire  for  expression  is  universal 
and  elemental,  and  is  equivalent  to  the  in- 
nate craving  for  happiness.  The  Infinite, 
Omnipotent,  Supreme  Intelligence  finds  ex- 
pression in  the  universe,  acting  through  all 
his  marvelous  physical  and  spiritual  laws. 
From  molecule  to  man,  from  satellite  to  sun, 
every  material  atom  feels  the  impulse  of 
that  divine  energy  and  strives  to  express  it, 
through  chemical  action  and  reaction, 
through  attraction  and  repulsion.  Thus  are 
the  planets  formed  for  the  use  of  man,  to 
afford  the  opportunity  for  Human  Souls  to 
express  themselves  and  achieve,  through  ex- 
perience, the  sublime  heights  attainable  only 
by  conforming  to  the  constructive  princi- 


66  Why  Are  We  Here? 

pies,  inherent  in  Nature  as  the  expression  of 
the  Infinite  Being. 

Since  expression  is  the  intent  of  God  as  manifested 
in  the  universe,  so  expression  is  the  intent  of  the  Soul 
in  accordance  with  its  finite  resemblance  to  God.  (E  22.) 

The  existence  of  an  Infinite  Intelligence 
implies  a  purpose,  for  a  purposeless  God 
would  be  nothing  more  than  blind,  unintel- 
ligent force.  The  purpose  of  God  would  ap- 
pear to  be  the  growth,  development  and  un- 
foldment  of  the  human  soul.  As  physical 
man  is  a  product  of  physical  evolution,  so 
the  Soul  must  unfold  and  develop  according 
to  analogous  spiritual,  evolutionary  laws. 

All  manifestations  or  expressions  of  God 
in  Nature  reveal  duality — masculine  and 
feminine,  positive  and  negative,  active  and 
passive — these  are  qualities  indicating  this 
duality  of  the  material  universe.  The  Soul 
is  dual  in  expression.  The  first  step  of  the 
Soul  toward  expression,  from  the  state  of 
being  to  the  state  of  doing,  is  the  impulsion 
—the  will  to  do.  The  next  step  is  division- 
duality,  and  finally  there  is  expression  in 
human  forms  as  male  and  female. 

Untold  ages  passed  before  our  planet  be- 
came ready  for  the  human  soul  to  begin  its 


Why  Are  We  Here?  67 

pilgrimage  thereon,  and  while  earthly  con- 
ditions were  preparing  for  Man's  advent, 
the  Human  Soul,  in  its  state  of  being  was 
preparing  for  its  own  evolution  and  expres- 
sion through  many  successive  embodiments 
in  earthly  life. 

The  physical  life  has  been  evolved  to  meet  the  in- 
volved Soul,  and  at  the  point  where  they  can  meet, 
creative  expression  in  the  physical  form  takes  place, 
and  could  no  more  be  prevented  than  could  two  lines 
of  light  approaching  each  other  be  prevented  from 
conjunction,  or  any  two  coincident  lines  be  prevented 
from  meeting.  (E  30.) 

The  first  expression  of  the  Soul  in  matter  is  in  the 
form  of  Man  and  Woman.  No  lower  type  of  existence 
could  express  that  which  humanity  reveals;  no  other 
type  than  humanity  could  express  the  Soul'  and  that 
which  is  intended  to  be  expressed  or  represented. 
(E  33.) 

The  masculine  and  feminine  elements  are 
always  embodied  as  male  and  female  re- 
spectively, and  are  not  interchanged  during 
all  the  successive  embodiments.  The  two  ex- 
pressions of  the  one  soul  are  continuing 
their  corresponding  lives  and  experiences 
simultaneously,  and  are  unfolding  uni- 
formly in  the  same  degree,  but  never  are 
there  more  than  the  two  expressions  of  the 
one  Soul  at  the  same  time. 


Our  birth  is  but  a  sleep  and  a  forgetting: 
The  Soul  that  rises  with  us,  our  life's  star, 

Hath  had  elsewhere  its  setting. 
And  cometh  from  afar: 

Not  in  entire  forget  fulness, 

And  not  in  utter  nakedness, 

But  trailing  clouds  of  glory  do  we  come 

From  God,  who  is  our  home. 

— WILLIAM  WORDSWORTH. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SUCCESSIVE  EMBODIMENTS  ;   JUSTICE  TO  ALL  SOULS  ;  ALL 
MUST  HAVE  ALL  EXPERIENCES;  EVIDENCES  OP  INDI- 
VIDUAL  CONSCIOUSNESS;    ITS   PERSISTENCE 
THROUGH   SUCCESSIVE   LIVES. 


TO  many  people  the  idea  of  re-incar- 
nation or  successive  lives  on  earth 
seems  repellant,  even  absurd  and 
fantastic,  but  this  attitude  of  mind  is  due 
either  to  a  lack  of  correct  teaching  on  the 
subject,  or  to  deep-seated  prejudice  due  to 
life-long  acceptance  of  the  doctrine  of  a  sin- 
gle life  on  earth  with  a  possible  immortality 
thereafter. 

The  sincere  and  earnest  truth-seeker,  de- 
siring a  rational  explanation  of  the  inequal- 
ities and  apparent  injustices  by  which  he  is 
surrounded,  finds  little  satisfaction  in  being 
compelled  to  leave  all  compensations  and 
adjustments  to  a  future  life  of  which  he  can 
learn  little  or  nothing.  His  mind  seeks  an 
exposition  of  the  Divine  Plan  which  he  feels 
must  exist,  and  operate  under  fixed  laws,  to 
extend  absolute  justice  to  every  human  soul 
in  the  execution  of  the  purpose  of  a  just,  all- 
wise  and  beneficent  God. 

As  God  is  absolutely  just,  every  soul  must 

71 


72  Why  Are  We  Here? 

have  every  experience  on  earth,  during  its 
complete  unf  oldment,  and  this  makes  many 
successive  lives  a  positive  necessity.  The 
circumstances  may  differ  with  different 
souls,  but  the  experiences  will  be  sufficiently 
similar  to  teach  the  same  lessons,  and  like 
the  pupils  of  a  school,  all  must  learn  the 
same  lessons  before  graduating. 

No  human  soul  in  its  eternal,  progressive 
evolution  can  afford  to  miss  any  experience 
of  life  whether  joyful  or  painful.  To  lack 
experience  is  to  lack  unf  oldment,  and  many 
of  life's  most  beautiful  lessons  are  learned 
only  through  sorrowful  experience.  The  di- 
vine inheritance  of  every  human  soul  is  the 
right  to  perfect  development,  and  if  any 
soul  missed  any  experience,  it  would  be 
cheated  of  a  portion  of  its  heritage. 

The  argument  of  compensation  hereafter 
for  happiness  missed  in  earth  life,  does  not 
meet  the  requirements  of  justice;  for  if 
there  is  compensation  for  missed  happiness 
there  must  also  be  compensation  for  missed 
misery,  and  punishment  for  evil,  making  a 
positive  Hell  as  necessary  as  a  positive 
Heaven.  If  babes  who  miss  all  life's  lessons 
by  dying  in  infancy  could  be  compensated 


Why  Are  We  Here?  73 

by  learning  them  all  in  the  future  life,  then 
there  would  be  no  use  of  their  being  born  at 
aU. 

No  philosophy  is  susceptible  of  proof,  for 
the  moment  it  is  proven  it  is  no  longer  a 
philosophy  but  a  science.  The  value  of  a 
philosophy  lies  in  its  application  to  the  prob- 
lems of  human  life,  and  it  is  rational  and 
acceptable  only  as  it  solves  those  problems. 
If  it  gives  complete,  logical  and  satisfactory 
answers  to  all  the  inquiries  of  the  thought- 
ful, unbiased  mind,  then  that  philosophy 
may  be  accepted  as  true.  The  philosophy  of 
Successive  Embodiments,  correctly  inter- 
preted and  understood,  does  this.  The  doc- 
trine of  only  one  life  on  earth  does  not. 

The  student  who  desires  physiological  and 
psychological  evidence  of  the  existence  of 
the  soul  as  a  self-conscious  entity,  and  argu- 
ments showing  the  necessity  for  the  accumu- 
lated experience  of  many  embodiments,  will 
find  ample  material  in  the  books  from  which 
we  quote. 

Feeling  accompanies  all  possible  experience. 
Whether  one  hate  or  love,  whether  he  live  in  intel- 
lectual realms  or  those  of  sensuous  emotions,  feeling 
accompanies  each  state  so  faithfully  that  the  only  ex- 
planation of  this  is  that  it  is  the  presence  of  a  self- 


74  Why  Are  We  Here? 

conscious  soul,  exercising  an  underived  and  underiv- 
able  power  innate  in  consciousness  itself,  and  hence  a 
ray  from  or  an  aspect  of  the  Causeless  Cause,  in  its 
finite  manifestation.  (G  36.) 

Nay,  if  there  were  no  other  proof  of  there  being  a 
higher  consciousness  in  nature  and  in  man,  it  is  shown 
beyond  all  doubt  by  the  very  facts  upon  which  materi- 
alistic science  chiefly  relies — those  of  evolution.  No 
building  was  ever  yet  constructed  whose  model  or  de- 
sign was  not  previously  present  in  the  consciousness 
of  its  architect,  and  no  biological  process  ever  took 
place  which  was  not  previously  present  in  the  mind 
of  a  Higher  Intelligence.  (G  41.) 

Materialism  has  looked  at  the  universe  so  long 
through  material  lenses  that  it  has  become  spiritually 
color  blind.  It  also  confounds  the  condition  of  think- 
ing with  the  cause  of  thought ;  it  mistakes  the  physical 
brain,  which  is  the  battery  by  means  of  which  the 
operator  beyond  transmits  thought  messages  to  this 
physical  plane,  for  the  creator  of  that  which  it  merely 
transmits.  (G  43.) 

The  brain,  if  likened  to  a  musical  instrument,  re- 
sembles a  violin  in  that,  however  good  it  be  as  a  musi- 
cal instrument,  and  however  carefully  it  has  to  be 
constructed  in  all  its  parts  to  become  such  an  instru- 
ment, yet  of  itself  it  cannot  give  forth  a  musical  note, 
much  less  take  part  in  a  complex  symphony,  without 
a  musician  to  use  it.  (H  34.) 

Since  it  is  the  same  ' '  I' '  which  perceives  both  in  the 
waking  state  and  in  dreams,  and  since  perception  in 
the  waking  state  can  only  proceed  at  a  definite, 
measurable  rate  of  speed,  if  we  find  in  dreams  this 
same  "I"  recording  perceptions  at  a  rate  a  million 
times  greater  than  that  which  its  physical  organ,  or 


Why  Are  We  Here?  75 

brain,  is  capable  of  registering,  it  follows  that  it  can- 
not be  using  this  physical  organ,  and  is  therefore  not 
limited  to  the  latter  for  its  manifestations  of  con- 
sciousness. This  alone  proves  that  we  possess  a  con- 
sciousness independent  of  the  body,  and,  therefore,  a 
soul,  beyond  all  cavil  or  dispute.  (G  48.) 

Yet  under  the  philosophic  axiom  that  any  law  must 
necessarily  be  universal  in  its  action  to  exist  at  all, 
this  conscious  energy  which  he  exhibits  must  fall  un- 
der the  same  law  of  conservation  which  obtains  on  the 
material  plane.  And  this  conservation  of  mental  en- 
ergy requires  a  mental  vehicle,  and  one  capable  of 
passing  from  body  to  body  upon  the  death  of  these ; 
else  the  mental  energy  of  one  life  is  not  conserved  and 
carried  over  to  the  next,  as  its  true  conservation  de- 
mands. *  *  For  either  subjective  energy,  intellect, 
emotion,  will,  etc.,  are  stored  up  in  and  transmitted 
under  the  law  of  force  conservation  by  a  Soul,  or  this 
law  as  well  as  that  of  evolution,  is  violated.  (G  50, 
51.) 

One  sees  at  once  how  immense  must  be  the  waste  of 
energy  manifesting  as  intellect  or  intuition  if  the 
process  of  its  evolution  has  to  be  begun  anew  with 
each  new  babe  born  on  earth,  to  be  again  cut  short  by 
death  when  perhaps  at  its  very  highest  evolutionary 
activity,  unless  that  energy  is  carried  forward  from 
personality  to  personality  by  means  of  the  repeated 
reincarnation  of  the  soul.  If  then,  the  energies  of  the 
soul  obey,  as  they  must,  the  law  of  force  conservation, 
reincarnation  becomes  an  absolute  necessity.  (G  51.) 

In  this  Soul  or  Higher  Ego  is  the  true  individuality, 
the  real  life,  and  consciousness.  The  personality  is 
but  the  bundle  of  sense  organs  through  which  we 
gather  experience  and  wisdom  on  the  material  plane, 


76  Why  Are  We  Here? 

which  is  our  present  area  of  activity.  The  Higher 
Ego  represents  all  that  we  have  become  since  we  as- 
sumed control  of  our  own  destinies.  (G  54.) 

History  and  observation  show  that  experi- 
ence is  the  best  teacher  and,  in  innumerable 
ways,  the  only  one.  Pity  and  sympathy  are 
most  keenly  developed  when  both  the  be- 
stower  and  the  recipient  have  had  similar 
experiences.  The  same  is  true  of  all  human 
emotions,  and  one  person  can  truly  under- 
stand another  only  when  they  have  had  the 
same  or  like  experience.  What  is  necessary 
for  one  soul  is  necessary  for  all,  and  all 
must  have  similar  experiences  and  learn  the 
same  lessons.  Thus  there  is  equal  and  exact 
justice  to  all,  and  every  soul  must  some  time 
solve  all  the  problems  of  life  on  the  earth, 
through  experience  and  unf  oldment. 

Through  these  many  embodiments  and  ex- 
periences the  Soul  gradually  unfolds  step  by 
step,  and  learns  little  by  little  to  overcome 
all  earthly  trials,  and  to  achieve  self -poise, 
self-control  and  mastership.  This  is  the  vic- 
tory which  must  be  won  by  every  soul,  and 
every  effort  in  the  right  direction  is  an  im- 
pulse toward  higher  conditions  in  the  next 
embodiment. 


They  tell  of  the  spirit's  transmigration, 
Life  after  life  while  the  ages  run, 

Till  dawns  the  day  of  its  consummation, 
Till  toil  is  over  and  heaven  is  won. 

The  soul  may  rest,  for  the  high  ideal 
For  which  so  long  it  has  vainly  yearned, 

Is  won  at  last,  and  becomes  the  real, 
And  all  the  lessons  of  life  are  learned. 

*        *        *         *        *        * 

Then  only  they  who  in  full  completeness 
Have  drained  life's  wine  to  its  very  lees, 

With  all  its  bitterness,  all  its  sweetness, 
Can  joy  completely  in  God's  great  peace. 

— HELEN  G.  HAWTHORNE. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

SUCCESSIVE  EMBODIMENTS  NOT  METEMPSYCHOSIS;  THE 

SPIRITUAL  EXPLANATION  THE  ONLY  TRUE  SOLUTION  OP 

LIFE;  THREE  GENERAL  STAGES  OF  EMBODIMENTS, 

PHYSICAL,  INTELLECTUAL  AND  SPIRITUAL;  RETRO- 
GRESSION   ONLY    APPARENT;    SUPERFICIAL    OR 

FALSE    HEIGHTS;    THE    SPIRITUAL    BATTLE- 
GROUND ;  THE  FINAL  VICTORY. 

••>      ••• 

THE  philosophy  of  " Successive  Em- 
bodiments" as  presented  here,  and  as 
taught  by  the  School  of  Psychoso- 
phy,  does  not  mean  the  same  as  Reincarna- 
tion, as  taught  in  Theosophy.  There  are 
vital  points  of  difference  which  may  be  de- 
termined by  reading  the  literature  referred 
to  in  this  book.  Neither  does  it  mean  Met- 
empsychosis, or  the  transmigration  of  hu- 
man souls  to  or  from  the  bodies  of  animals. 
Earthly  conditions  being  ready,  the  Soul 
becomes  embodied  for  the  first  time  in  the 
body  of  a  human  being  in  its  most  primal 
and  undeveloped  state,  and  this  is  the  begin- 
ning of  the  earthly  experiences  of  the  Hu- 
man Soul.  The  first  embodiment  is  at  the 
lowest  possible  expression  of  human  life, 
and  each  successive  embodiment  is  a  step  in 
advance  of  the  preceding  one. 

79 


80  Why  Are  We  Here? 

The  first  state  of  human  life  is  the  state  into  which 
the  Soul  descends,  having  taken  upon  itself  the  invo- 
lution toward  expression.  That  is  the  beginning,  so 
far  as  humanity  is  concerned;  no  human  life  so  low 
upon  the  earth  that  that  life  does  not  represent  the 
beginnings  of  all  Souls  in  their  expressions  here,  and 
none  so  high  that  they  do  not  typify  the  attainment 
of  all  Souls  ere  expression  is  finished  here.  (E  33.) 

The  first  stage  of  existence,  the  infancy  of  the  race, 
is  partially  revealed  by  Science,  but  the  spiritual  and 
primal  solution  of  existence  is  unknown,  and  the  ma- 
terial one  is  sought  for.  In  the  spiritual  explanation 
is  found  the  only  true  solution  of  life :  that  when  the 
birth  on  earth  begins,  the  expression  of  Souls  must 
take  the  farthest  point  from  the  celestial  state.  Souls, 
in  expression,  do  not  begin  by  conquest  over  the  earth ; 
that  is  attained.  (E  34.) 

The  Soul's  embodiments  on  earth  may  be 
divided,  in  a  general  way,  into  three  great 
stages  of  development  and  unf  oldinent ;  the 
Physical,  the  Intellectual  and  the  Spiritual. 
Each  of  these  stages  comprises  many  succes- 
sive embodiments.  In  the  first  or  physical 
stage,  there  is  the  striving  to  overcome  phys- 
ical conditions  and  in  the  earliest  embodi- 
ments there  is  little  intellectual  or  moral 
purpose  apparent.  In  the  later  expressions 
of  the  physical  stage  there  is  great  pride  in 
physical  accomplishments  and  power. 

The  embodiments  follow  one  after  another  in  more 


Why  Are  We  Here?  81 

rapid  succession  in  the  physical  states  of  expression 
since  there  is  little,  or  nothing,  of  the  moral  and  spir- 
itual harvest  to  gather,  so  the  successive  embodiments 
in  the  first  states  come  rapidly.  The  growth  is  slow, 
and  the  perceptible  advancement  in  expression  from 
one  embodiment  to  another  would  scarcely  be  noticed 
until  the  final  result.  In  this  first  stage  of  expression 
man  seems  inferior  to  the  animal  kingdom  since  he 
has  no  instinct  to  govern  his  appetites,  and  his  mental 
and  moral  nature  is  still  undeveloped  in  expression. 
This  is  because  the  only  law  of  man's  government  is 
the  mental  and  moral  (spiritual),  and  because  of  this 
he  has  no  blind  instinct  to  guide  him.  (E  35,  36.) 

The  degree  of  physical  expression,  merely,  must  be 
repellant  to  contemplate  by  itself,  as  it  includes  all 
states  that  precede  intellectual  activity,  or  mental  at- 
tainment; constitutes  the  existence  wherein  the  sen- 
suous life  governs,  wherein  there  may  be  enjoyment  of 
the  senses,  wherein  there  may  be  some  degree  of  per- 
ception, a  certain  manifestation  of  intelligence,  but  no 
approach  to  the  intellectual  or  spiritual  awakening, 
which  must  come  when  the  race  or  the  individual  is 
dominated  by  the  higher  nature.  (E  36.) 

In  the  second  or  Intellectual  Stage  of  de- 
velopment the  strivings  are  for  mental  or  in- 
tellectual achievement,  and  this  is  chiefly  ap- 
parent at  the  present  time.  It  is  the  age  of 
brains.  The  intellectual  giant  is  the  ideal  of 
the  day.  The  wonderful  scientific  discov- 
eries and  inventions  of  the  present  age  indi- 
cate the  Soul's  desire  for  mental  attainment 
and  power. 


82  Why  Are  We  Here? 

As  intellectual  power  is  the  next  step,  its  conquests 
constitute  the  next  victory;  for  the  most  part  the 
average  human  life  pauses  there  for  a  time,  imagining 
this  to  be  the  real  height.  *  *  *  There  is  no  greater 
deformed  monster  in  the  universe  than  the  intellectual 
giant  devoid  of  moral  strength,  as  there  is  no  greater 
monstrosity  than  the  physical  giant  devoid  of  intel- 
lectual and  spiritual  strength;  but  as  one  illustrates 
one  step  of  progress,  so  the  other  illustrates  another. 
But  each  step  must  be  taken  by  each  Soul.  (E  39.) 

In  the  third  or  Spiritual  Stage  of  the 
Soul's  unfoldment,  the  higher  nature  comes 
into  ascendancy.  The  Soul  having  achieved 
the  heights  of  physical  and  intellectual  at- 
tainments, discovers  them  to  be  false  heights 
and  merely  stepping  stones  to  the  real  vic- 
tories to  be  achieved.  Here  the  spiritual  and 
moral  strength  is  unfolded,  and  the  Soul 
learns  to  choose  the  higher,  spiritual  way  in 
all  things;  to  attain  those  lofty,  spiritual 
heights  which  approach  the  sublime,  and  of 
which  our  Earth  has,  as  yet,  furnished  com- 
paratively few  conspicuous  examples. 

Each  Soul  begins  at  the  beginning  of  experience 
here,  and  passes  through  physical  conquest  and  the 
physical  disappointment,  through  intellectual  conquest 
and  the  intellectual  disappointment,  and  enters  upon 
the  spiritual  conquest  and  all  its  difficulties  to  finally 
overcome  them.  (E  44.) 

If  you  are  journeying  up  a  mountain  and  have  com- 


Why  Are  We  Here?  83 

menced  your  journey  sooner  than  another,  you  will 
be  at  a  higher  altitude  than  the  one  who  commenced 
afterward,  but  as  he  follows  along  he  will  find  the 
same  steep  and  stony  places,  the  same  briers  and 
thorns,  the  same  difficulties  to  encounter;  for  human 
nature  is  so  constituted  that  only  what  one  experiences 
does  one  really  know.  (E  44.) 

In  the  teachings  of  Psychosophy,  the 
words  " re-embodiment"  and  "re-incarna- 
tion" are  never  used,  since  the  prefix  "re" 
implies  a  going  back,  a  returning  to  similar 
conditions  again,  whereas  "successive  em- 
embodiments"  are  a  progressive  series  of 
earthly  lives,  each  a  step  in  advance  of  the 
previous  one.  There  are  embodiments  which 
would  seem  to  be  a  retrogression  but  the 
retrogression  is  only  apparent,  not  real. 
These  are  cases  where  the  Soul  needs  the  les- 
sons of  degradation,  and  they  are  added  to 
its  store  of  experience  and  knowledge  of  hu- 
man life.  These  embodiments  are  like  a  de- 
scent into  valleys  in  order  to  reach  the 
heights  beyond. 

For  the  most  part  the  ascent  through  matter,  after 
taking  the  first  steps  in  the  infancy  of  life,  is  like  a 
spiral  pathway,  but  there  are  deviations  which  are  the 
reactions  from  heights  that  are  not  real,  as  the  super- 
ficial height  of  the  body  (physical  vanity)  or  the 
superficial  height  of  the  intellect  (intellectual  vanity). 


84  Why  Are  We  Here? 

So  that  which  seems  to  be  a  descent  is  not  so  in  reality, 
neither  is  it  so  in  the  mental  or  moral  kingdoms,  for, 
as  said  before,  the  giant  of  the  intellect,  or  he  who  has 
no  goodness  or  moral  strength  is  a  monstrosity,  and 
the  reaction  from  that  leads  to  the  simplest  mind,  but 
a  mind  of  sweetness  and  goodness.  *  *  *  So  that 
these  simple  minds,  as  they  are  termed,  who  must 
have  descended  from  the  height  of  superficial  intel- 
lectuality to  the  humility,  perhaps,  of  knowing  noth- 
ing, to  learn  the  lessons  of  sweetness  and  goodness, 
are  really  on  the  way  to  be  giants  of  strength  in  spirit 
(E  45.) 

The  three  general  stages  of  unf  oldment  of 
the  Soul  (Physical,  Intellectual  and  Spir- 
itual) are  not  clearly  distinct  and  separate. 
There  is  an  overlapping  and  interblending  of 
conditions  at  all  times,  but  in  the  earlier  em- 
bodiments the  physical  is  paramount,  with 
mentality  secondary,  and  faint  glimmer- 
ings of  spirituality.  In  the  second  or  Intel- 
lectual stage  the  Mentality  is  cultivated  as 
the  ideal  achievement,  with  physical  attain- 
ments still  held  in  high  esteem,  but  religious 
and  spiritual  affairs  considered  of  some  im- 
portance. In  this  stage  the  struggle  to  live 
according  to  spiritual  ideals  is  a  most  diffi- 
cult one.  In  the  Spiritual  stage,  however, 
the  value  of  the  spiritual  and  moral  virtues 
is  placed  above  all  things,  with  intellectual- 


Why  Are  We  Here?  85 

ity  a  secondary  consideration,  and,  like 
physical  development,  only  a  means  to  an 
end,  and  that  end  the  true  spiritual  unf  old- 
ment  of  the  Soul,  the  complete  victory  over 
self. 

The  strength  of  spirit  is  attained  through  struggles 
that  may  encompass  all  conditions  of  life.  Not  gi- 
gantic to  the  extent  of  overweening  physical  strength, 
but,  for  the  purpose  of  usefulness,  as  much  strength 
as  is  needed;  not  gigantic  to  the  extent  of  worship- 
ing the  intellect  at  the  expense  of  the  heart,  but  to 
succeed  in  all  and  to  fail  in  all,  until  one  can  forward 
the  work  of  the  spirit,  until  it  has  conquered  all  states, 
not  only  sin  but  the  greatest  of  all  sins,  self -righteous- 
ness, and  stands  in  sublime  and  exalted  humility  as 
the  typical  illustration  of  conquest  over  the  earth. 
All  states  between  that  and  the  lowest  condition  which 
you  can  picture  are  states  of  human  experience  that 
every  Soul  must  pass  through.  Meanwhile  there  in- 
filtrates into  these  experiences  a  religious  or  spiritual 
element,  a  suggestion  that  that  which  the  body,  or  the 
mind  only,  accomplishes,  is  no  accomplishment  at  all. 
(E  45,  46.) 

No  one  at  the  end  of  all  these  different  experiences 
can  say  that  any  line  of  expression  or  experience  has 
been  denied.  All  must  know  what  it  is  to  be  slaves, 
as  all  have  a  natural  tendency  to  be  tyrants ;  all  must 
know  by  the  knowledge  of  possession  what  are  the  re- 
sponsibilities, trials  and  temptations,  as  well  as  the 
redeeming  and  excusing  features  in  each  expression. 
*  *  *  In  fact,  whatever  men  covet  they  will  have 
an  opportunity  of  trying.  Whatever  they  do  not  care 


86  Why  Are  We  Here? 

for  in  worldly  possessions,  they  have  experienced  and 
outgrown.  (E  48.) 

When  we  consider  the  moral  world,  as  the  intel- 
lectual is  very  much  more  complicated  than  the  physi- 
cal struggle,  how  much  more  intricate  become  the 
moral  problems!  The  moment  the  spirit  begins  to 
assert  itself  the  battle  begins.  It  is  not  a  battle  be- 
tween the  intellectual  nature  and  material  life,  when 
the  intellect  becomes  unqualifiedly  the  victor,  but  here 
is  the  battle  of  ages;  between  the  voice  that  finally 
works  its  way  through  from  the  Soul  into  outward 
expression,  and  man's  unconquered,  selfish  nature; 
here  is  the  conflict  and  the  battle  ground;  here  it  is 
that  the  Titans  wage  war ;  here  it  is  that  all  final  vic- 
tories are  won.  The  other  struggles,  for  physical  or 
intellectual  supremacy,  are  merely  different  states  of 
selfishness,  but  the  first  time  man  knows  that  he  must 
forfeit  self,  or  that  there  is  a  stage  wherein  he  must 
vanquish  selfish  desires,  the  battle  begins;  that  is  the 
moral  starting  point.  (E  48.) 

The  intellectual  nature,  and  even  the  physical  life, 
asserts  man 's  supremacy ;  but  what  he  can  win  by  con- 
quering self  he  learns  for  the  first  time  in  his  moral 
nature,  he  has  it  in  the  voice  of  the  Soul,  which  tells 
him  he  has  no  right  to  any  possession  merely  because 
he  can  win  it  *  *  *  that  he  has  no  moral  right, 
even  though  he  has  the  physical  power,  to  win  supre- 
macy and  hold  it;  and  the  real  law  of  life  is,  when 
possessing  strength  not  to  use  it  against  others,  but 
for  others.  (E  49.) 

The  conquest  is  to  win  a  victory  over  self,  not  over 
another ;  and  that  which  is  denominated  virtue  in  one 
state  of  growth,  becomes  impossible  in  another.  A 
primal  virtue  in  the  ages  of  physical  supremacy  is 


Why  Are  We  Here?  87 

conquest,  slaughter  for  individual  or  national  empire. 
Second  only  to  this  in  lack  of  moral  or  spiritual  per- 
ception, is  the  sacrifice  of  life  in  what  is  commonly 
called  "self-defense."  One  cannot  slay,  one  cannot 
do  violence  to  another,  one  cannot  betray  in  any  man- 
ner, one  cannot  degenerate  to  any  vice,  one  cannot 
censure,  if  one  has  outgrown  or  overcome  the  state  in- 
dicated. Neither  angel  nor  demon  can  tempt  the  man 
who  is  above  temptation.  (E  49.) 


Soul,  struggle  on!  Within  the  darkest  night 
Still  broods  the  majesty  of  deathless  Right. 

If  to  its  promptings  clear  thou  still  art  true, 
The  larger,  sweeter  lights  will  flash  to  view. 

— S.  P.  PUTNAM. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

INDIVIDUAL  EFFORT  NECESSARY  ;  SOULS  BORN  INTO  RIGHT 
CONDITIONS;  CONSCIOUS  CHOICE  OF  ENVIRONMENT; 
SPIRIT  STATES  A  FRUITION;  AMPLE  TIME  TO 
FULFILL  ALL  DUTIES  AND  FUNCTIONS  BE- 
FORE NEXT  EMBODIMENT;  CONCERN- 
ING   MEMORY   OF   EMBODIMENTS; 
CULMINATIONS. 


WHILE  the  course  traced  by  succes- 
sive embodiments  is  in  a  constantly 
ascending  progression,  it  must  not 
be  understood  that  no  effort  is  required 
from  the  individual,  or  that  he  may  pas- 
sively await  his  unfoldment  and  spiritual 
growth.  It  is  a  fundamental  decree  of  na- 
ture that  every  unit  in  physical  life  must 
put  forth  individual  effort,  in  order  to  grow' 
and  develop  its  individuality.  The  vine,  the 
plant,  the  tree  must  exert  itself  in  the  exer- 
cise of  the  functions  of  its  nature,  in  order 
to  live  and  grow.  Every  animal  is  com- 
pelled by  the  law  of  its  being  to  make  indi- 
vidual efforts,  in  its  struggle  for  existence. 
This  inherent  law  compelling  individual 
effort  is  a  phase  of  the  all-pervading  "de- 
sire for  expression,"  the  great  spiritual 

91 


92  Why  Are  We  Here? 

force  underlying,  energizing  and  directing 
all  physical  evolutionary  forces.  In  man's 
earlier  embodiments  lie  is  compelled  to  assist 
unconsciously  in  his  own  evolution  and  un- 
f  oldment,  but  later,  as  he  becomes  aware  of 
his  spiritual  nature  and  the  value  of  con- 
scious personal  effort,  he  may  consciously 
accelerate  his  progress  and  greatly  hasten 
the  process  of  the  Soul's  unf oldment. 

For  many  embodiments  the  Soul  is  irre- 
sistibly, and  without  conscious  choice,  born 
into  the  proper  environment  for  its  particu- 
lar stage  of  development,  by  the  operation 
of  physical  laws  of  heredity  and  evolution, 
together  with  spiritual  laws  of  causation, 
and  the  desire  for  expression,  all  combining 
to  form  the  right  balance  of  power,  produc- 
ing the  correct  natural  conditions  for  the 
Soul's  embodiment. 

When  the  Soul  has  attained  a  sufficient 
degree  of  unfoldment,  it  exercises  a  con- 
scious choice,  within  the  limitations  of  the 
laws  governing  its  needs,  and  selects  to  some 
extent  the  conditions  for  its  next  embodi- 
ment. Sometimes  there  is  important  work 
unfinished  in  one  embodiment,  and  the  Soul 
seeks  the  environment  where  that  work  may 


Why  Are  We  Here?  93 

best  be  completed.  Often  an  advanced  Soul 
seeks  embodiment  under  peculiar  condi- 
tions, for  the  express  purpose  of  fulfilling 
some  great  mission  to  mankind,  or  perhaps 
to  convey  and  exemplify  valuable  lessons  to 
certain  individuals.  Sometimes  when  a  babe 
is  born  and  its  little  life  is  but  for  days  or 
hours,  that  Soul  has  been  embodied  not  so 
much  for  its  own  expression,  as  for  some- 
thing to  be  wrought  in  the  lives  and  hearts 
of  its  parents. 

Every  human  embodiment  is  followed  by 
a  period  of  life  in  the  spirit  state.  This 
spirit  state  is  for  the  purpose  of  impressing 
upon  and  revealing  to  the  Soul  the  meaning 
of  the  earthly  embodiment  just  ended.  It  is 
the  fruition  or  harvest  of  that  embodiment 
and  completes  and  rounds  out  that  expres- 
sion of  the  Soul.  In  this  spirit  state  all  the 
lessons  taught  by  the  experiences  of  the 
earth  life  just  closed,  are  made  clear.  Not 
in  an  instant,  not  in  many  years,  but  by  de- 
grees does  the  Soul  come  to  understand  and 
assimilate  the  meaning  of  those  experiences. 
The  more  advanced  is  the  Soul,  the  sooner 
does  it,  by  conscious  effort,  grasp  the  essen- 
tial signification  and  purpose  of  the  various 


94  Why  Are  We  Here? 

joys  and  sorrows,  the  pleasures  and  pains  of 
that  previous  embodiment  and  make  them  a 
part  of  its  eternal  possessions. 

In  the  most  primitive  earthly  states,  or  those  near- 
est to  matter,  the  spiritual  expressions  that  follow  each 
embodiment  are  very  feeble,  and,  therefore,  the  spir- 
itual existences  are  of  short  duration,  and  are  not  con- 
nected with  any  conscious  moral  or  spiritual  activities ; 
but  in  later  embodiments,  when  the  mind  and  spirit 
begin  to  be  active  in  expression,  the  spiritual  states 
which  follow  the  earthly  embodiments  are,  necessarily, 
more  complete  and  full  as  the  fruition  of  each  embodi- 
ment. (E  65.) 

As  there  is  approach  toward  the  final  culmination 
in  embodiments  on  earth  the  spiritual  harvest  is  riper 
before  entering  spirit  life,  so  the  interval  of  time  be- 
tween embodiments  is  much  lessened,  for  as  the  em- 
bodiments approach  a  final  culmination  there  is  more 
rapid  tendency  to  expression.  (E  69.) 

Between  each  embodiment  and  the  succeeding  one 
is  such  period  of  time  *  *  *  as  is  required  for  the 
spiritual  expression  or  fruition  of  the  preceding  one. 
There  is  no  haste,  there  is  no  delay;  no  imperfect  or 
broken  links  in  the  entire  chain.  (E  65.) 

No  added  embodiment  is  necessary  until  all  obliga- 
tions and  duties  belonging  to  the  late  embodiment  are 
expressed  and  perfected.  (E  68.) 

The  spirit  of  each  embodiment  is  expressed  as  long 
in  mortal  and  spiritual  life  as  there  is  any  call  or  de- 
mand for  it.  We  mean  by  this:  any  duties  that  are 
unfinished,  any  ties  that  are  formed  and  require  to  be 
maintained,  any  outward,  or  material,  belongings  in 
which  the  spirit  is  concerned  must  he  preserved.  (E  66.) 


Why  Are  We  Here?  95 

The  mother,  whose  child  is  left  upon  the  earth,  does 
not  change  her  natural  or  spiritual  relationship ;  she 
fills  her  function  toward  that  child.  When  there  is  an 
added  expression  upon  the  earth,  in  another  embodi- 
ment, it  is  after  all  possible  duties  have  been  filled 
toward  the  child;  and  that  relation  of  mother  and 
child,  if  it  be  real,  is  included  as  a  portion  of  the 
Soul's  treasures.  (E  66.) 

When  the  harvest  of  the  preceding  em- 
bodiment has  been  gathered,  when  the  les- 
sons to  be  learned  from  the  experiences  of 
that  last  life  have  been  assimilated,  then 
comes  the  Soul's  desire  for  further  expres- 
sion and  added  experience.  Then  there  is  a 
shadowing,  an  involution  and  when  duly 
prepared,  the  Soul  seeks  and  finds  another 
embodiment  under  conditions  exactly  suited 
to  its  needs. 

The  Soul  never  forgets ;  the  Soul  always 
remembers,  but  under  most  wise  and  benefi- 
cent laws  there  is  ordinarily  no  recollection 
in  one  embodiment  of  experiences  in  previ- 
ous embodiments.  There  are  exceptions  to 
this  rule,  and  there  are  many  well  authenti- 
cated instances  of  persons  having  more  or 
less  distinct  reminiscences  of  former  lives. 
The  farther  advanced  the  Soul  becomes,  the 
clearer  are  these  recollections. 


96  Why  Are  We  Here? 

The  Soul  having  completed  all  its  earthly 
expressions,  retains  as  its  permanent  posses- 
sions all  the  essential  knowledge  gained 
through  those  experiences,  just  as  the 
skilled  musician  or  mathematician  possesses 
the  perfect  mastery  of  his  profession,  with- 
out thought  or  remembrance  of  the  innu- 
merable details  which  attended  his  educa- 
tion. 

That  man's  conscious  experiences  upon  earth  are  so 
largely  recorded  upon  the  physical  plane  *  *  *  is 
a  most  beneficent  provision  of  nature.  So  full  of  mis- 
takes, errors,  sins  and  crimes  is  the  past  of,  perhaps, 
every  one  of  us,  that  the  actual  memory  of  it  all  car- 
ried forward  in  detail  to  each  new  life  would  over- 
whelm the  soul  with  despair  at  the  very  outset.  Nor 
is  it  essential  to  the  conviction  of  our  having  lived  be- 
fore that  we  should  remember  each  incident  in  our 
past  lives,  or  even  that  we  have  lived  before  at  all. 
Who  remembers  the  first  two  or  three  years  of  his  in- 
fancy? The  fact  that  we  were  the  same  individual 
during  this  period  of  forgotten  existence  that  we  are 
now,  none  of  us  doubts,  yet  we  would  be  sorely  put 
about  it  if  we  were  required  to  furnish  proof  of  this 
from  memory.  (G  213.) 

This  is  the  surest  memory — the  knowledge  that  the 
crystallized  results  of  what  we  have  experienced  are 
fully  and  completely  expressed  in  what  we  are  now. 
Are  we  prone  to  anger,  and  find  it  difficult  to  control 
fits  of  passion  ?  Here  is  the  memory  of  many  a  deed 
of  violence  done  under  the  dominance  of  our  lower 


Why  Are  We  Here?  97 

nature  long  ago.  Do  we  turn  with  horror  away  from 
injustice  or  extortion?  Be  assured  we  are  remember- 
ing the  time  when  we  ourselves  were  the  sufferers 
from  similar  unjust  acts.  *  *  *  We  are  the  creation 
of  our  past;  and  the  nature  we  have  evolved  is  its 
memory.  If  we  have  gathered  wisdom  from  the  ex- 
perience of  our  lives,  it  is  enough;  in  just  what  the 
experience  consisted  is  of  little  moment.  (G  214.) 

Occasionally  the  world  is  startled  by  the 
appearance  of  great  geniuses,  who  flash  like 
meteors  across  the  sky  of  human  experience, 
and  amaze  mankind  by  their  marvelous 
achievements  in  their  particular  sphere  of 
action.  It  is  an  astounding  wonder  to  all 
the  world  how  such  geniuses  have  accom- 
plished so  much  in  a  single  life.  Success- 
ive embodiments  furnish  a  simple  and  ade- 
quate explanation.  Such  a  life  is  a  culmina- 
tion of  a  long  series  of  embodiments  and  ex- 
perience along  a  definite  line. 

A  distinct  result,  or  perfection  in  any  given  line  of 
expression  is  a  culmination.  Each  culmination  is  the 
termination  of  a  line  of  successive  embodiments  to- 
ward a  certain  point  of  perfect  expression  in  one  di- 
rection ;  and  while  there  may  be  latent  suggestions  of 
other  lines  in  the  same  series  of  embodiments,  there  is 
always  a  dominant  purpose,  in  each  embodiment  of 
that  series,  in  the  direction  of  the  culmination.  (E 
36.) 

The  spirit  of  each  embodiment  is  the  breath,   or 


98  Wliy  Are  We  Here? 

impetus,  from  the  Soul  toward  a  culmination.  A  cul- 
mination is  the  highest  point  that  can  possibly  be  at- 
tained in  a  given  line.  In  past  ages  all  humanity  was 
being  expressed  on  the  physical  plane,  and  there  are 
still  those  attaining  perfection  and  conquest  in  that 
direction.  *  *  *  Those  who  have  outgrown  the 
prize  ring  and  the  desire  for  physical  contest,  may 
safely  conclude  that  in  a  past  condition  they  have  ex- 
pressed themselves  to  the  fullest  extent  in  that  direc- 
tion. (E  37,  38.) 

Today  the  whole  world  may  be  said  to  be  tending 
toward  a  culmination  of  intellectual  strength;  while 
in  the  past  there  have  been  individuals  and  nations 
who  have  illustrated  this  culmination,  the  whole  world 
now,  as  an  average,  worships  at  this  shrine  of  intel- 
lect. (E  39,  40.) 

In  all  ages  geniuses  are  the  culminations  of  a  given 
line.  We  would  name  Mozart  as  a  genius  because, 
untaught,  in  childhood  he  knew  the  principles  of  har- 
mony *  *  *  he  knew  because  he  had  had  experience 
in  previous  lives ;  he  had  taken  all  the  steps  until  that 
life  was  the  culmination.  (E  41.) 

All  steps  toward  genius  are  steps  of  aspiration. 
The  man  who  wishes  to  play,  the  one  who  wishes  to 
sing,  certainly  shall  play  and  sing  because  it  is  some- 
thing yet  to  be  attained.  *  *  *  If  the  art  or  gift 
is  something  that  has  been  attained ;  if  one  has  been  a 
musical  genius,  that  is  evident  from  this  fact:  that 
one  is  not  seeking  for  it,  and  yet  is  familiar  with  mu- 
sic. *  *  *  He  has  no  desire  to  do  it,  because  he  can 
do  it,  because  it  is  a  part  of  his  past  experiences.  (E 
41.) 

Genius  is  the  culmination  of  many  steps  toward 


Why  Are  We  Here?  99 

perfection  in  one  direction.  Then  wherever  there  is 
genius  distinctly  manifested,  it  is  the  final  expression 
of  the  individual  Soul  in  that  one  direction.  Each 
may  know  by  the  geniuses  of  the  world  what  the 
culmination  of  all  will  be,  or  have  been,  for  each  Soul 
must  express  itself  as  perfectly  as  any  other  in  those 
directions.  (E42.) 


We  cannot  follow  our  own  wayward  wills, 
And  feed  our  baser  appetites,  and  give 
Loose  rein  to  foolish  tempers  year  on  year 
And  then  cry  "Lord  forgive  me,  I  believe," 
And  straightway  bathe  in  glory.    Man  must  learn 
God's  system  is  too  grand  a  thing  for  that. 
****** 

Each  conquered  passion  feeds  the  living  flame; 
Each  well-borne  sorrow  is  a  step  towards  God; 
Faith  cannot  rescue,  and  no  blood  redeem 
The  Soul  that  will  not  reason  and  resolve. 

— ELLA  WHEELER  WILCOX. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

SPIRIT  LIFE  ONE  OP  ACTIVITY;  MINISTRATION  AND  HELP- 
FULNESS; SPIRITS  OF  OUR  OWN  PLANE  ATTRACTED; 
SPIRITS    OF    LOW    DEGREE    SPIRITUALLY    WEAK; 
GOOD   WORK   DONE   BY   SPIRITUALISM  ;    ME- 
DIUM SHIP   GOOD   AND   BAD. 


THE  life  of  the  Spirit  during  the  in- 
terim between  embodiments  is  a  life 
of  activity  as  well  as  of  fulfilment 
and  fruition.  The  spirit  finds  himself  to  be 
the  same  individual  after  death  as  before, 
with  the  same  tastes,  temperament,  likes 
and  dislikes,  disposition  and  desires.  There 
is  opened  a  clearer  vision  and  a  different 
viewpoint,  and  one  finds  a  host  of  spirit 
friends  eager  to  give  helpful  advice  and 
service.  Whether  this  helpfulness  is  ac- 
cepted and  made  available  by  the  newly  ar- 
rived spirit,  depends  upon  his  stage  of  un- 
f oldment  and  desire  for  light  and  progress. 
As  Souls  in  earthly  embodiments  are  in  all 
possible  stages  of  unfoldment,  from  the 
most  degraded  condition  to  those  highly  ad- 
vanced, so  the  arrivals  in  spirit  states  are  of 
the  same  innumerable  variety.  But  no  emi- 
grant to  that  land  is  so  degraded  or  so  un- 

103 


104  Why  Are  We  Here? 

fortunate  that  he  is  not  greeted,  and  con- 
tinually attended,  by  spirit  friends  whose 
mission  is  to  open  his  eyes  to  the  truths  of 
spiritual  life  and  to  encourage  him  to  per- 
sonal efforts  toward  his  enlightenment  and 
spiritual  progress.  In  many  instances  is 
this  a  thankless  and  wearisome  task,  but  all 
in  good  time,  the  divine  germ  is  awakened 
and  voluntarily  turns  to  the  light.  With 
what  joy  do  the  spirit  friends  and  teachers 
then  attend  that  weary  pilgrim,  until  he  has 
learned  the  lessons  to  be  gleaned  from  his 
past  earthly  experience,  and  he,  too,  learns 
the  value,  the  happiness  and  the  necessity  of 
helping  others  as  he  has  been  helped. 

The  spirit  world  is  indeed  a  world  of  ac- 
tivity and  work ;  of  ministration  and  loving 
helpfulness  to  those  left  on  earth  as  well  as 
those  in  spirit  life.  The  spirit  mother  may 
watch  over  her  babe  in  earth  life,  the  de- 
parted wife  counsel  and  influence  her  dis- 
consolate help-mate.  All  spirits  who  have 
advanced  sufficiently,  and  are  bound  by  ties 
of  love  and  friendship,  may  and  do  exercise 
their  spiritual  powers  in  various  ways  to  as- 
sist, to  encourage  and  to  comfort  their 
earthlv  friends. 


Why  Are  We  Here"/  105 

Hosts  of  spirits  are  with  us  and  about  us 
at  all  times,  ready  at  every  opportunity  to 
influence  us  to  better  thoughts  and  better 
deeds.  We  are  generally  unconscious  of 
those  spirit  impressions  and  influences,  be- 
cause we  are  so  immersed  in  the  activities  of 
earthly  life  and  sensuous  pleasures  that  we 
carelessly  or  ignorantly  close  the  avenues  by 
which  those  messages  may  come,  or  by  our 
grossness  deaden  the  impressions  we  may 
receive. 

We  coarsen  and  benumb  our  nerves  of 
sensation  and  weaken  our  powers  of  percep- 
tion by  the  use  of  tobacco,  alcohol,  drugs  and 
immoderate  use  of  food,  so  that  we  are  less 
receptive  and  the  spirit  influences  find  it  dif- 
ficult, and  often  impossible,  to  make  an  im- 
pression upon  us,  and  even  if  the  impression 
is  made  we  remain  unconscious  of  its  source. 
By  right  living,  right  thinking  and  right 
doing  we  may  bring  ourselves  into  direct, 
conscious  contact  with  our  spirit  friends. 

We  attract  to  ourselves  our  own  class  of 
spirits,  or  those  who  are  in  a  similar  stage  of 
unf  oldment  to  ourselves.  If  we  are  weak  in 
spirituality  and  are  devoted  to  the  gratifica- 
tion of  our  material  senses ;  if  we  are  selfish, 


106  Why  Are  We  Here? 

cruel,  intolerant  and  unforgiving,  we  sur- 
round ourselves  with  spirits  of  the  same 
class.  We  thereby,  not  only  render  it  more 
difficult  for  our  higher  spirit  friends  to 
reach  us,  and  thus  hamper  our  own  spiritual 
unfoldment,  but  we  retard  the  unfoldment 
and  progress  of  those  spirits  of  our  own 
class  whom  we  have  attracted  to  us. 

This  does  not  mean  that  these  unprogres- 
sive  spirits  are  a  distinct  and  active  power 
for  evil,  but  that  they  are  a  negative  force, 
an  obstacle  to  spiritual  advancement.  No 
earnest,  sincere,  truth-seeking  investigator 
need  have  any  fear  of  "evil  spirits,"  for  by 
his  sincerity  and  right  motives  he  surrounds 
himself  with  spirit  protection  that  is  a  posi- 
tive shield  against  influences  that  are  lower 
than  himself.  It  is  only  by  wilful  or  ig- 
norant disregard  of  this  fact,  or  by  permit- 
ting himself  to  become  passive  and  pliant, 
subjecting  his  own  will  to  the  will  of  others, 
that  he  can  place  himself  where  spirit  influ- 
ences can  injure  him. 

The  one  who  has  made  no  conquest  of  temptation 
while  in  the  earthly  state,  where  temptation  really  ex- 
ists, cannot  win  that  victory  in  the  spiritual  state.  So 
one  who  passes  into  the  spiritual  state  of  existence, 
passes  only  to  the  completion  of  the  solution  of  the 


Why  Are  We  Here?  107 

problems  already  commenced,  not  to  a  moral  renova- 
tion ;  nor  is  that  lack  of  moral  victory  a  state  of  active 
or  aggressive  evil  in  the  spirit  existence;  it  is  an  ag- 
gregation of  weakness.  Those  shadowy  states,  fre- 
quently referred  to  in  spirit  messages,  strongly  pic- 
tured and  typified,  are  not  states  of  positive,  active, 
aggressive  evil,  but  are  states  of  negation.  That  which 
in  earth  life  is  positive,  because  fed  by  material  and 
organic  conditions,  is  spiritual  imbecility.  To  be  a 
murderer  on  earth  is  in  spirit  life  to  be  a  weakling. 
Those  spirits  having  no  knowledge  of  goodness  have 
no  spiritual  power.  All  who  have  aims,  aspirations 
and  exalted  reflections  in  earthly  life,  pass  on  to  spir- 
itual states  commensurate  with  them.  (E  68.) 

Modern  Spiritualism,  in  spite  of  its  faults 
and  weaknesses,  has  been  a  tremendous 
power  for  good  in  the  world  during  the  last 
half  century.  It  has  been  the  means  of  dem- 
onstrating the  fact  of  continued  existence 
after  death,  and  the  possibility  of  communi- 
cation between  the  two  states  of  existence. 
It  has  overthrown  orthodox  opposition,  con- 
vinced scientific  skepticism,  and  firmly  es- 
tablished the  two  great  facts  of  spirit  life 
and  spirit  return,  in  the  minds  of  a  vast  ma- 
jority of  civilized  and  cultured  peoples. 

That  probably  four-fifths  of  those  who  are 
convinced  of  these  two  great  truths  make  no 
public  admission  of  their  beliefs,  is  due  to 


108  Why  Are  We  Here? 

the  great  discredit  which  has  been  brought 
upon  Spiritualism  by  the  frauds,  fakers,  im- 
postors and  swindlers  who  have  attached 
themselves  to  the  movement.  The  very  na- 
ture of  Spiritualistic  demonstrations  ren- 
ders it  peculiarly  susceptible  and  open  to 
use,  abuse  and  imitation  by  ignorant  or  mer- 
cenary impostors. 

There  is  a  deeper  reason,  however,  for  the 
obloquy  which  rests  upon  Spiritualism,  and 
this  is  rooted  in  the  fact  that  Spiritualists 
themselves,  as  a  rule,  have  not  studied  and 
do  not  understand  the  principles  and  phil- 
osophy governing  their  one  great  funda- 
mental, demonstrating  fact — mediumship. 

There  is  a  mediumship  that  is  a  high  and 
holy  service  to  human  kind,  and  a  sacrament 
for  distressed  and  sorrowing  souls;  an  in- 
spiration and  a  pillar  of  light  to  those  grop- 
ing in  spiritual  shadow.  This  mediumship 
is  of  untold  value  to  humanity.  Great  souls 
and  advanced  teachers  in  spirit  life  have 
thus  given,  and  are  still  giving  to  the  world, 
spiritual  truths  and  teachings  of  incalcula- 
ble value  to  embodied  souls  in  their  search 
for  enlightenment  and  unf oldment. 

Mediumship  of  this  class  is  individually 


Why  Are  We  Here?  109 

independent.  The  medium  does  not  surren- 
der his  individual  will  to  the  control  of  the 
spirit,  but  receives  the  message  and  passes 
it  on  as  an  operator  transmits  his  tele- 
graphic message.  Very  advanced  souls  have 
sought  embodiment  for  the  express  purpose 
of  being  instruments  for  conveying  great 
truths  to  mankind.  Under  proper  condi- 
tions, a  medium  may  step  aside  and  lend  the 
use  of  his  physical  organs  to  the  communi- 
cating spirit  without  surrendering  his  will 
or  personality  to  spirit  control.  This  phase 
is  commendable  and  safe,  but  it  is  not  com- 
mon nor  is  it  readily  attained. 

The  most  common  phase  of  mediumship, 
however,  so  common  that  many  writers,  in- 
vestigators and  students  consider  it  the  only 
phase,  is  that  of  " control";  where  the  me- 
dium becomes  passive  and  surrenders  him- 
self completely  and  absolutely  to  domina- 
tion and  control  by  the  will  of  the  spirit. 
When  this  submission  is  to  the  will  of  an- 
other in  the  body  it  is  known  as  hypnotism. 
This  class  of  mediumship  is  simply  hypno- 
tism by  a  disembodied  spirit,  and  is  repre- 
hensible, degrading  and  dangerous,  being 
contrary  to  the  higher  spiritual  laws  as  well 


110  Why  Are  We  Here? 

as  to  the  physical  laws  governing  our  ma- 
terial well-being.  It  has  been  most  aptly 
and  emphatically  described  as  a  "  Great 
Psychological  Crime." 


There  is  no  Chance,  no  Destiny,  no  Fate 

Can  circumvent  or  hinder  or  control 

The  firm  resolve  of  a  determined  soul. 

Gifts  count  for  little;  Will  alone  is  great, 

All  things  give  way  before  it  soon  or  late. 

What  obstacles  can  stay  the  mighty  force 

Of  the  sea-seeking  river  in  its  course. 

Or  cause  the  ascending  orb  of  day  to  wait? 

Each  well-born  soul  must  win  what  it  deserves. 

Let  the  fool  prate  of  luck — the  fortunate 

Is  he  whose  earnest  purpose  never  swerves, 

Whose  slightest  action  or  inaction  serves 

The  one  great  aim.    Why,  even  Death  stands  still 

And  waits  an  hour  sometimes  for  such  a  will. 

— ELLA  WHEELER  WILCOX. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  GREAT  PSYCHOLOGICAL  CRIME ;  SUBJECTIVE  MEDIUM- 
SHIP  DANGEROUS  AND  DEGRADING;  SIGNS  OF  A  SUB- 
JECTIVE MEDIUM  ;  A  HIGHER  METHOD  OF  INDI- 
VIDUAL DEVELOPMENT  FOR  CONTACT  WITH 
THE  SPIRITUAL  WORLD ;  CONSTRUCTIVE 
INSTEAD   OF  DESTRUCTIVE. 
•••      •* 

THE  author  of  "The  Great  Psycho- 
logical Crime"  presents  a  deserved 
and  scathing  arraignment  of  subjec- 
tive mediumship  and  its  destructive  results, 
but  asserts  that  all  forms  of  mediumship  are 
subjective;  that  the  will  of  the  medium  is 
controlled  by  the  will  of  the  spirit  in  all 
cases.  The  higher  phases  of  mediumship 
mentioned  in  the  preceding  chapter,  where 
the  medium  retains  his  independent  will  and 
individuality,  "T.  K."  admits  as  indepen- 
dent communication  with  the  spirit  world 
but  refuses  to  class  it  under  the  head  of  me- 
diumship at  all.  This  explanation  is  neces- 
sary, that  the  reader  may  understand  that 
the  word  "mediumship"  in  the  following 
quotations  means  "subjective  mediumship" 
as  previously  defined. 

113 


114  Why  Are  We  Here? 

Mediumship  is  therefore  hypnotism.  But  it  is  hyp- 
notism with  something  added.  It  is  also  mesmerism. 
But  it  is  mesmerism  with  something  added.  It  is 
hypnotism  plus  mesmerism  plus  something  else.  The 
something  else  is  found  by  science  to  be  the  action  of 
independent,  spiritual  intelligences  operating  from  the 
spiritual  plane  of  activity.  (I  169.) 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  mediumship,  like  hyp- 
notism, is  a  subjective,  psychic  process.  Its  primary, 
motive  power  is  the  soul  or  intelligence  of  the  dom- 
inating control.  Those  intelligent  acts  of  the  physical 
organism  of  an  individual  which  are  the  results  of  the 
mediumistic  process,  are  but  reflex  activities  resulting 
from  the  action  of  one  mind  or  intelligence  upon  an- 
other. *  *  *  In  other  words,  the  spiritual  intelli- 
gence which  controls  the  hand  of  a  medium  does  so 
only  by  controlling  the  motive  power  by  which  the 
medium  himself  controls  it  when  acting  indepen- 
dently, namely,  the  will.  (I  183.) 

The  passive  condition  of  the  mind  in  mediumship 
and  the  consequent  inactivity  of  the  physical  brain, 
through  which  the  mind  operates,  soon  result  in 
atrophy  of  the  brain  tissues,  degeneracy  of  the  mental 
powers  and  suspension  of  the  mental  functions.  (I 
218.) 

Every  student  of  mediumistic  phenomena  who  will 
put  himself  in  position  to  observe  the  results  of  the 
subjective  process  upon  the  mind  of  the  medium  will 
be  able  to  note  some,  and  oftentimes  all,  of  the  fol- 
lowing significant  peculiarities  and  symptoms : 

1.  One  of  the  invariable  signs  of  a  subjective, 
mental  state  on  the  part  of  a  medium  is  a  far-away, 
hazy,  abstract,  introspective  or  glassy  stare  of  the 
eyes. 


Why  Are  We  Here?  115 

2.  A  gradual  and  progressive  loss  of  memory  of 
things  present. 

3.  A  growing  inability  to  hold  the  mind  intently, 
for  any  length  of  time,  upon  any  subject  which  de- 
mands thoughtful  study. 

4.  A  growing  inability  to  think  consecutively  or 
logically  upon  any  subject  which  calls  for  analytical 
thought. 

5.  A  growing  inability  to  give  undivided  attention 
to  an  ordinary  conversation. 

6.  An  increasing  tendency  to  lapse  into  a  state  o*f 
mental  abstraction  and  introspection. 

7.  A  gradual  and  progressive  loss  of  will  power 
and  energy  to  perform  hard  mental  labor  of  any  kind. 

8.  A  growing  suspicion  concerning  the  motives  and 
intentions  of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact. 

9.  An    increasing    sensitiveness    to    unimportant 
things. 

10.  A  growing  irritability  of  temperament. 

11.  Increasing  nervousness. 

12.  A  growing  childishness  and  vanity  concerning 
little  things. 

13.  Increasing  egotism  and  selfishness  in  almost 
everything  that  concerns  the  individual. 

14.  And  finally,  a  gradual  decrease  of  the  purely 
intellectual  activities  of  the  mind,  accompanied  by  a 
corresponding  increase  of  emotionalism  and  of  the 
physical  appetites,  passions  and  desires.    (I  219,  220.) 

Inasmuch  as  mediumship  slowly  but  surely  de- 
stroys the  power  of  self-control,  its  inevitable  ten- 
dency is  toward  animalism.  The  law  is  inexorable. 
(I  229.) 


116  Why  Are  We  Here? 

From  whatever  point  these  facts  may  be  viewed 
their  meaning  is  perfectly  plain.  *  *  *  They  clearly 
and  unmistakably  identify  the  principle  back  of  the 
mediumistic  process  as  The  Destructive  Principle  of 
Nature  in  Individual  Life.  (I  231.) 

These  quotations  serve  to  show  the  dan- 
gers attending  subjective  mediumship,  but 
space  forbids  the  scientific  explanations  and 
arguments  which  are  fully  set  forth  in  the 
book.  Of  the  higher  or  independent  medi- 
umship (which  he  does  not  term  medium- 
ship)  the  author  has  this  to  say  in  part : 

There  is,  in  fact,  a  method  of  development  which, 
when  once  accomplished,  enables  the  individual  to 
come  into  as  conscious  relation  to  his  spiritual  en- 
vironment as  he  is  to  his  physical  environment.  He 
sees  clairvoyantly  whenever  he  desires  to  do  so,  and 
when  he  opens  his  spiritual  eyes  he  sees  whatever 
there  is  to  be  seen  upon  the  spiritual  planes  within 
the  range  of  his  vision.  He  hears  clairaudiently 
whenever  he  wills  to  do  so,  and  when  he  thus  exercises 
his  spiritual  sense  of  hearing,  he  hears  whatever  there 
is  to  be  heard  upon  the  spiritual  planes  within  the 
range  of  his  hearing.  He  is  able  to  communicate  with 
those  upon  the  spiritual  side  of  life  as  freely  and  as 
voluntarily  as  he  does  with  those  upon  the  physical 
plane.  (I  203.) 

Spiritual  intelligences  have  no  control  over  him 
whatever,  nor  any  of  his  faculties,  capacities  or  volun- 
tary powers.  He  is  absolutely  independent  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  his  sensory  organism.  In  other  words  he  is 


Why  Are  We  Here?  117 

an  independent  psychic  in  every  sense  of  the  term. 
He  is  in  every  sense  a  natural  "  development "  and  at 
every  progressive  step  along  the  way  he  acquires  defi- 
nite and  specific  " powers." 

He  occupies  the  position  of  a  Master,  while  the  me- 
dium occupies  that  of  the  subject  or  slave.  The  one 
is  independent,  the  other  dependent.  The  one  pos- 
sesses specific  and  definite  "powers,"  the  other  is 
robbed  of  the  powers  with  which  Nature  originally 
invested  him.  The  one  is  an  active,  intelligent  factor, 
the  other  a  passive  instrument.  The  one  is  a  responsi- 
ble, individual  intelligence,  the  other  an  irresponsible 
automaton  to  the  extent  he  becomes  a  subject  of  medi- 
umistic  processes.  (I  204.) 

These  excerpts  should  be  sufficient  to  indi- 
cate the  interesting  character  of  this  valu- 
able book  and  to  encourage  its  careful  peru- 
sal and  study.  What  the  author  says  of  him- 
self and  constructive  development  will  form 
a  fitting  close  for  this  chapter. 

In  order  that  his  position  shall  not  be  misunder- 
stood nor  his  motives  misinterpreted,  the  writer  de- 
sires to  state  at  this  time,  in  the  most  explicit  terms 
possible : 

That  he  is  not  a  medium. 

That  he  never  has  been  a  medium. 

That  he  has  never  been  hypnotized. 

That  he  has  never  been  mesmerized. 

That  he  has  never  been  a  subject  of  psychic  con- 
trol in  any  form,  degree,  or  manner  whatsoever. 


118  Why  Are  We  Here? 

That  notwithstanding  these  facts  he  has  developed 
the  ability  to  exercise  his  spiritual  sensory  organism 
independently,  self-consciously  and  voluntarily,  at 
any  time. 

That  the  method  by  which  this  power  has  been  ac- 
quired, and  the  process  involved  in  its  exercise,  are 
as  different  from  those  of  mediumship,  mesmerism 
and  hypnotism  as  the  principle  of  affirmation  is  differ- 
ent from  that  of  negation,  or  as  construction  is  dif- 
ferent from  destruction. 

That  under  competent  instruction  any  man  of  equal 
intelligence,  courage  and  perseverance,  and  a  right 
motive,  may  accomplish  the  same  results,  provided  he 
have  the  time,  opportunity  and  facilities  for  carrying 
on  the  work.  (I  176,  177.) 

This  process  involves  the  acquisition  of  exact  knowl- 
edge, the  accomplishment  of  a  specific  work,  and  the 
living  of  a  definite  life.  It  is  an  independent,  self- 
conscious  and  rational  process.  It  is  a  wide-awake,  a 
normal  and  an  intelligent  process.  It  is  a  process 
under  which  the  individual  at  all  times  and  under  all 
conditions  must  maintain  a  normal  and  healthful  con- 
trol of  all  his  intelligent  faculties,  capacities  and 
powers.  It  is  a  process  which  enables  the  individual 
to  see  for  himself,  hear  for  himself  and  sense  for  him- 
self, the  spiritual  data,  and  obtain  for  himself  definite 
knowledge  of  another  life.  It  is  a  process  which  de- 
mands self-control  instead  of  self -surrender,  and  in- 
dependence of  volition  instead  of  subjection  to  the 
will  of  others.  In  other  words,  it  is  in  every  respect  a 
Constructive  process.  It  develops  a  Master  instead  of 
a  Medium.  (1365.) 


Over  and  over  the  task  was  set; 

Over  and  over  I  slighted  the  work; 
But  ever  and  alway  I  know  that  yet 

I  must  face  and  finish  the  thing  I  shirk. 

Over  and  over  the  whip  of  pain 

Has  spurred  and  punished  with  blow  on  blow: 
As  ever  and  alway  I  tried  in  vain 

To  shun  the  labor  I  hated  so. 

Over  and  over  I  came  this  way 

For  just  one  purpose,  oh,  stubborn  soul — 
Turn  with  a  will  to  your  toil  today, 

And  learn  the  lesson  of  Self -Control. 

— ELLA  WHEELER  WILCOX. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

WHY    SHOULD    WE   BE    GOOD?    THE    CONSTRUCTIVE   PRIN- 
CIPLE IN  NATURE;  MUST  LIVE  IN  HARMONY  WITH 
THIS  PRINCIPLE;  THE  SCIENTIFIC  BASIS  OF  ETHICS; 

MORALITY    THE    FOUNDATION    OF    SPIRITUAL    UN- 

FOLDMENT;  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  INDIVIDUAL 

WILL  AND  SELF-CONTROL;  LIVING  THE  LIFE 

IN  CONFORMITY  WITH  THE  CONSTRUCTIVE 

PRINCIPLE. 


WHY  should  I  be  good  ?"  "  What  is 
right  ?  "  "  Is  there  a  rational,  scien- 
tific basis  for  moral  living?"  "Is 
there  any  principle  in  the  very  nature  of 
things  that  establishes  a  fixed  line  of  moral 
conduct,  that  determines  what  is  right  and 
what  is  wrong?"  "If  so,  what  is  it,  why 
should  I  conform  my  life  in  accordance  with 
it,  and  what  will  be  the  result  if  I  do  not?" 
These  are  queries  that  have  arisen  in  the 
minds  of  all  thinking  persons  and  many 
others  as  well.  Many  are  satisfied  with  the 
simple  doctrine  (but  in  many  complex 
forms)  that  in  the  future  life  we  will  be  re- 
warded for  our  good  deeds  and  punished  for 
the  bad  ones ;  while  others,  appreciating  the 
marvelous  perfection  of  physical  laws  and 

121 


122  Why  Are  We  Here? 

recognizing  an  all-pervading  spiritual  force 
in  the  universe,  feel  the  conviction  that 
there  is,  and  logically  must  be,  such  a  prin- 
ciple or  law  in  Nature  determining  in  gen- 
eral what  acts  are  necessarily  and  inevitably 
right,  and  furnishing  an  unerring  and  com- 
prehensible basis  for  morality. 

There  is  such  a  principle  inherent  in  the 
very  heart  of  things,  as  universal  and  in- 
flexible in  its  operation  as  the  law  of  gravi- 
tation itself.  It  has  been  given  the  name  of 
"The  Constructive  Principle  in  Nature,"  by 
the  author  of  that  remarkable  book,  "The 
Great  Work." 

All  physical  laws  in  final  analysis  may  be 
reduced  to  two  general  principles,  Attrac- 
tion and  Repulsion.  Both  are  equally  neces- 
sary in  the  great  scheme  of  things.  Reaction 
is  as  much  a  necessary  force  as  action.  Neg- 
ative force  as  important  as  positive.  Under 
the  law  of  attraction  all  material  forms  are 
built.  Under  repulsion  those  forms  are  dis- 
integrated into  their  elements,  and  through 
attraction,  new  and  higher  forms  come  into 
existence.  Attraction  is  constructive,  Re- 
pulsion is  destructive.  The  boulder  is  dis- 
integrated and  becomes  earth  and  germin- 


Why  Are  We  ' Here?  123 

ates  the  seed  which  develops  the  higher,  veg- 
etable life.  The  plant  in  turn  decays  and 
returns  again  in  other  forms,  or  is  eaten  by 
the  animal,  disintegrated,  digested,  and  its 
atoms  builded  into  the  higher,  animal  form. 
The  stately  forest  under  Nature's  destruc- 
tive forces  becomes  a  bed  of  coal  and  eventu- 
ally ministers  to  the  sustenance  and  comfort 
of  man.  The  destruction  of  one  form  and 
the  construction  of  other  and  higher  forms 
are  continually  and  universally  in  opera- 
tion. Both  processes  are,  in  the  broad  sense, 
equally  necessary  in  the  divine  plan. 

If  the  farmer  conforms  to  Nature's  con- 
structive laws,  his  crop  is  abundant.  If  we 
conform  to  those  constructive  principles  in 
our  physical  life,  we  will  be  healthy  and  vig- 
orous. These  are  physical  and  superficial 
illustrations  but  the  spiritual  analogy  is  per- 
fect. Love  is  constructive,  hate  is  destruc- 
tive. Altruism  is  constructive,  Selfishness 
destructive.  Kindness  is  constructive,  Cru- 
elty destructive.  Tolerance  is  constructive, 
Intolerance  destructive.  As  we  note  that 
the  course  of  physical  evolution  is  upward 
toward  higher  forms,  we  recognize  the  great 
constructive  principle  at  work.  It  is  the 


124  Why  Are  We  Here? 

great  cosmic  building  force,  and  is  the  one 
great  spiritual  principle  impelling  us  to 
build  our  lives  and  unfold  our  souls  by  con- 
forming our  thoughts  and  deeds  in  harmony 
with  it. 

We  may  falter  and  fail  a  million  times. 
We  may  struggle  again  and  again  to  plant 
ourselves  firmly  upon  the  right  path  and  as 
many  times  fall  back  into  indifference  or  de- 
spair. But  every  effort  lifts  us  a  little 
nearer  and  the  time  will  come,  the  time  must 
come,  when  we  shall  be  able  to  live  our  lives 
in  harmony  with  this  great  constructive 
principle,  physically,  mentally  and  morally. 
The  law  is  inexorable;  it  cannot  be  trans- 
gressed with  impunity  or  immunity,  nor  can 
it  be  evaded  at  all.  Sooner  or  later  we  must 
make  the  struggle,  sooner  or  later  we  must 
recognize  that  there  is  no  escape,  and  that 
the  sooner  we  begin  the  sooner  will  we  attain 
the  joy  and  happiness  that  results  from 
overcoming. 

We  are  here  for  unfolding  our  souls 
through  experience,  and  every  soul  must 
"work  out  its  own  salvation."  There  is  no 
other  way.  There  is  no  short  cut  to  the  goal. 
It  may  be  postponed  and  progress  may  be 


Why  Are  We  Here?  125 

retarded,  but  time  is  long  and  eternity  is 
sufficient  to  bring  every  soul  out  of  the 
depths  into  its  divine  inheritance.  The  mo- 
ment the  soul  recognizes  these  truths  and 
strives  to  act  in  accordance  therewith,  that 
moment  is  its  progress  accelerated  and  spir- 
itual power  gained  for  further  advance- 
ment; but  there  must  be  the  individual  ef- 
fort, and  the  will  to  do  must  be  strengthened 
and  established. 

Progress  is  the  one  great  fact  of  our  be- 
ing and  Nature's  Constructive  Principle  is 
the  concrete,  scientific  evidence  of  the  moral 
law  at  the  foundation  of  progress. 

The  process  which  gives  objective  expression  of  this 
law  or  principle  of  Nature  is  everywhere  manifest  to 
the  trained  scientist  in  the  world  of  physical  matter. 
For  instance :  it  manifests  itself  to  the  objective  senses 
in  the  integration  and  crystallization  of  stone.  It  is 
evidenced  by  that  subtile  force  which  integrates  and 
binds  together  in  solid  mass  the  particles  of  iron,  steel, 
copper,  brass,  silver,  gold  and  other  metals.  It  is  ob- 
served in  the  condensation  of  vapors  into  liquids  and 
of  liquids  into  solids.  It  is  demonstrated  by  that  sub- 
tile affinity  between  the  atoms  of  physical  matter, 
upon  which  the  chemist  in  his  laboratory  bases  all  his 
chemical  compounds.  In  truth,  it  is  THAT  PRINCIPLE 

IN  NATURE  WHICH  IMPELS  EVERY  ENTITY  TO  SEEK  VI- 
BRATORY CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  ANOTHER  LIKE  ENTITY 
OF  OPPOSITE  POLARITY.  (J  112.) 


126  Why  Are  We  Here? 

But  there  are  yet  higher  manifestations  of  the  same 
law  or  principle  in  operation.  These  rise  to  the  more 
exalted  plane  of  psychic  phenomena.  They  constitute 
the  indices  by  which  we  mark  the  constructive  unf  old- 
ment  and  evolutionary  development  of  the  human 
soul.  They  measure  the  increasing  power  of  human 
intelligence.  They  signalize  the  growing  refinement 
of  moral  sentiment  and  aesthetic  taste.  They  evidence 
the  increasing  sensibility  of  human  conscience.  They 
mark  the  growth  of  human  sympathy  with  and  care 
for  those  who  need.  They  measure  the  increasing 
stature  of  human  character.  They  indicate  the  evo- 
lutionary construction  of  psychic  individuality.  (J 
113.) 

The  Constructive  Principle  in  Nature  and 
its  application  to  human  life,  the  develop- 
ment of  the  individual  will  and  the  unf  old- 
ment  of  the  real  Spiritual  man,  or  Soul,  is 
so  completely  set  forth  and  elaborated  in 
"The  Great  Work"  that  such  citations  as 
are  given  here  can  only  serve  as  indications 
of  what  a  rich  treat  is  in  store  for  those  who 
will  read  the  book. 

The  "Method"  of  the  Great  School  has  been 
wrought  out  in  conformity  with  the  Constructive 
Principle  and  Process  of  Nature  in  Individual  Life. 
The  primary  and  fundamental  purpose  of  this  method 
is  to  unfold  and  develop  the  faculties,  capacities  and 
powers  of  the  Intelligent  Soul  to  their  highest  con- 
structive possibilities  under  the  dominion  and  control 


Why  Are  We  Here?  127 

of  the  individual  himself,  and  subject  alone  to  the  in- 
dependent action  and  operation  of  his  own  will.     (J 

148.) 

After  showing  that  the  development  of 
constructive  spirituality  has  its  very  foun- 
dation in  the  individual  practice  of  moral- 
ity, and  that  "  Morality  is  as  truly  and  defi- 
nitely a  matter  of  science  as  is  chemistry," 
T.  K.  further  says: 

With  an  ethical  foundation  once  established  in  sci- 
ence, the  problem  is  then  resolved  into  a  mere  question 
of  how  far  the  individual  student  shall  conform  his 
or  her  life  to  its  principles.  For  that  is  the  inexor- 
able standard  by  which  Nature  measures  and  de- 
termines individual  unfoldment,  development  and 
progress  from  that  point.  Here  we  have  the  law  of 
evolution  in  operation.  It  is  absolute  and  immutable. 
There  is  no  evading  or  avoiding  it.  (J  150,  151.) 

For  it  is  a  fact  which  must  sooner  or  later  come  to 
the  knowledge  of  every  student,  that  without  this  ap- 
plication of  moral  principles  to  individual  conduct, 
and  without  the  living  of  a  life  in  conformity  with 
Nature's  Constructive  Principle,  there  is  no  amount 
of  "technical  work"  or  study  that  is  sufficient  to  un- 
lock the  spiritual  senses  and  place  them  under  the  in- 
dependent control  of  the  intelligent  will  of  the  indi- 
vidual. (J  151.) 

The  individual  who  has  developed  spiritual  powers 
through  the  Practice  of  Moral  Principles,  by  the  same 
law  loses  and  forfeits  those  powers  the  moment  he  de- 
stroys the  basis  on  which  they  rest,  that  is,  when  he 
begins  to  practice  principles  which  are  not  Moral. 


128  Why  Are  We  Here? 

*    *    *    He  forfeits  his  power  because  he  destroys  the 
foundation  upon  which  it  rests.     (J  154,  155.) 

MORALITY  is  MAN'S  ESTABLISHED  HARMONIC  RELA- 
TION TO  THE  CONSTRUCTIVE  PRINCIPLE  OF  HIS  OWN  BE- 
ING. (J  170.) 

Through  the  intelligent  exercise  of  the  Power  of 
Self-control  we  may  place  ourselves  in  perfect  align- 
ment with  the  Constructive  Principle  of  Nature  in  In- 
dividual Life  and  thereby  add  to  Nature's  evolution- 
ary impulse  the  intelligent  effort  of  our  own  Souls. 
(J  288,  289.) 

Self -Control  is  the  word  in  letters  of  Light  upon 
the  guide-post  which  stands  at  the  parting  of  ways 
and  points  with  its  "Hand  of  Love"  to  this  "Patb- 
way  of  Duty."  (J  289.) 

When  the  student  comes  fully  to  realize  that  his 
Personal  Responsibility  involves  a  Duty,  Burden  or 
Obligation  which  nature,  or  the  Great  Intelligence 
back  of  nature,  fixes  upon  him  as  a  definite  and  neces- 
sary part  of,  and  factor  in  the  scheme  of  Individual 
Evolution ;  when  he  comes  to  appreciate  the  fact  that 
it  is  something  which  cannot  be  shifted  to  other  shoul- 
ders, nor  otherwise  escaped ;  when  he  is  able  to  under- 
stand with  clearness  and  certainty  that  it  is  a  pro- 
vision of  nature  which,  sooner  or  later,  must  be  met, 
and  the  sooner  the  better  for  him;  when  he  comes 
to  know  deep  down  within  his  inmost  Soul  that  there 
is  just  one  way,  and  one  only,  to  meet  it,  viz:  by 
"The  Living  of  a  Life";  then  it  is  that  he  seeks 
to  learn  the  exact  nature  of  the  Life  he  must  live  in 
order  that  he  may  thereby  meet  the  full  requirements 
of  the  Law.  And  this  is,  indeed,  the  beginning  of 
wisdom.  (J  387.) 


Out  of  the  night  that  covers  me, 
Black  as  the  pit  from  pole  to  pole, 

I  thank  whatever  gods  may  be 
For  my  unconquerable  soul! 

In  the  strong  stress  of  circumstance 
I  have  not  winced  or  cried  aloud; 

Under  the  bludgeoning s  of  chance 
My  head  is  bloody  but  unbowed! 

****** 

It  matters  not  how  strait  the  gate, 
How  charged  with  punishments  the  scroll, 

I  am  the  master  of  my  fate; 
I  am  the  captain  of  my  soul. 

— W.  E.  HENLEY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

COMPLETION  OF  EARTHLY  EMBODIMENTS;  THE  RE-UNITED 
SOUL   OR   ANGEL   OP   EARTH;   THE   ONE   PERFECT 
MARRIAGE;  ANGELIC  STATES;  ANGELIC  MINIS- 
TRATION; EMBODIMENTS  ON  OTHER  PLAN- 
ETS ;  ARCHANGELS  AND  MESSIAHS. 


IP  the  reader  has  followed  the  line  of 
thought  outlined  up  to  this  point,  with  a 
mind  freed  from  preconceived  ideas  and 
open  to  the  reception  of  truth  from  any 
source,  he  should  be  impressed  with  the  logic 
of  this  presentation  of  life's  purpose.  He 
should  be  able  to  apply  the  theories  given 
herein,  to  every  puzzling  problem  of  life  and 
to  find  a  rational  explanation  of  the  inequal- 
ities, injustices,  sorrows  and  iniquities  of 
human  existence. 

If  the  presentation  has  been  too  crude  and 
imperfect  to  afford  the  reader  a  comprehen- 
sive grasp  of  the  philosophy,  he  may  find 
whatever  is  lacking  by  study  of  the  various 
books  referred  to.  Although  this  book  is  in- 
tended as  a  key  to  this  earth  life  only,  some 
curiosity  may  be  aroused  as  to  what  follows 
after  the  Soul  has  completed  all  the  neces- 
sary embodiments  on  this  planet. 

131 


132  Why  Are  We  Here? 

When  the  Soul  (divided  in  expression  by 
material  existence)  has  overcome  all  earthly 
temptations,  passed  through  all  earthly  ex- 
periences, and  learned  all  that  may  be 
learned  by  earthly  embodiments,  it  becomes 
reunited  as  the  culmination  of  all  earthly 
embodiments. 

The  Soul,  in  its  two  fold  expression,  having  passed 
through  all  forms  of  embodiments,  meets.  This  is  the 
perfected  Soul,  in  its  conquest  over  matter.  What  is 
meant  by  this  is,  that  when  the  expression  of  life  is 
spiritually  perfect,  when  the  exaltation  is  complete 
and  the  earth  has  no  more  temptation,  the  Soul  hav- 
ing expressed  in  every  form,  then  the  life  is  complete, 
then  the  dual  life  appears. 

Once  only,  in  the  entire  series  of  embodiments,  do 
these  divided  expressions  of  the  Soul  meet  before  this 
final  expression.  *  *  *  This  meeting  is  when  one 
half  of  the  cycles  of  earthly  experience  have  been 
passed.  It  is  a  prophecy  of  the  final  recognition  and 
leaves  its  impress  or  reminiscence.  Such  instances  of 
marriage  form  the  typical  state  of  human  happiness; 
it  may  not  be  accompanied  with  great  exaltation  in 
any  other  ways,  but  the  perfectly  happy  marriage 
where  there  is  never  any  jar  nor  discord,  nor  diverg- 
ence, there  is  spiritual,  as  well  as  mental  and  moral, 
interchange  and  blending.  (E  79,  80.) 

When  all  possible  states  of  mortal  life  on 
earth  have  been  expressed,  the  recognition  of 


Why  Are  We  Here?  133 

the  masculine  and  feminine  takes  place  and 
the  two  become  one  Reunited  Soul  or  an  An- 
gel of  Earth. 

When  the  Angel  is  completed  in  Expression,  when 
such  as  these  pass  from  mortal  forms,  they  are  not  in 
spirit  states  but  as  one  Angel  enter  the  angelic  state, 
which  is  beyond  the  spiritual  state,  the  perfection  of 
all  spiritual  states ;  they  will  no  more  be  embodied  in 
mortal  form,  but  will  have  charge  of  the  Souls  that 
come  after  them.  (E  85.) 

These  Angels  have  possession  of  all  experience  and 
wisdom  of  earth,  and  thus  have  the  power  to  aid  oth- 
ers who  are  following  on  in  the  pathway  and  pil- 
grimage of  earthly  life.  Those  in  the  spheres  of 
Angels,  being  beyond  the  spheres  of  ministering  spir- 
its and  departed  friends,  keep  watch  and  guard  by 
appointment  over  those  spiritual  states  connected  with 
the  earth,  each  Angel  appointing  ministering  spirits 
according  to  the  need  or  state  of  mortals.  (E  86.) 

The  Angel  remains  in  the  angelic  state  for 
a  period  corresponding  in  point  of  time  to 
that  which  was  occupied  in  all  the  earthly 
expressions,  and  "in  the  angelic  state  there 
is  fruition  of  all  expressions  and  a  period  of 
ministration  corresponding  to  all  the  time  of 
experience. ' '  When  this  period  has  elapsed, 
then  the  Angel  passes  to  the  planet  more  ad- 
vanced than  our  Earth,  where  the  lowest  em- 
bodiment is  higher  than  the  highest  embodi- 


134  Why  Are  We  Here? 

ment  on  earth,  and  the  entire  round  of  em- 
bodiments must  then  be  experienced  upon 
that  planet. 

It  has  often  been  suggested  *  *  *  that  man  was 
produced  to  eventually  rule,  or  assist  in  ruling,  other 
worlds.  If  this  be  true,  a  good  reason  for  Evolution 's 
slow  processes  can  be  discerned,  because  the  Soul, 
which  is  the  storehouse  of  memory,  never  forgets ;  and 
consequently  the  wisdom  which  thus  reached  the 
highest  grade  would  possess,  in  its  memory,  its  own 
experiences  in  every  previous  plane  of  existence.  *  *  * 
We  notice,  too,  that  the  only  sympathy  that  is  of  real 
value  to  those  in  lower  grades  is  that  which  carries 
with  it  an  understanding  of  the  conditions  which 
there  obtain.  So  that  if  any  personal  sympathy  be 
required  in  a  ruler  of  a  world  *  *  *  it  is  clear  that 
it  could  only  be  acquired  by  the  advance  of  the 
ruler's  individuality  through  every  condition  of  ex- 
istence. (K  83,  84.) 

The  outer  planets  of  your  solar  system  reveal  a  life 
that  is  beyond  statement.  Life  upon  each  planet  re- 
veals as  its  culmination  the  Angels  and  Archangels, 
of  as  much  higher  degree  as  the  planet  itself  is  higher. 
Those  higher  planets  and  their  expressions  are  so  far 
beyond  the  imagination  of  the  children  of  earth  that 
it  cannot  be  possible  to  state  them,  only  to  say  that 
the  embodiment  on  each  planet  begins  where  the  ex- 
pression of  the  preceding  planet  culminates,  until  we 
reach  the  outermost  planet  of  the  solar  system,  where 
all  are  Archangels.  These  are  the  Souls  who  are 
ready  to  have  charge  over  worlds.  (E  94.) 

All  states  of  existence  having  been  expressed;  all 
victories  having  been  attained,  as  illustrated  in  the 


Why  Are  We  Here?  135 

different  conditions  of  human  life  upon  planets  and 
in  the  different  degrees  of  Angelic  and  Archangelic 
states,  there  is  but  one  other  expression  within  the 
possible  range  of  man's  comprehension,  or  even  con- 
ception, and  that  only  in  some  of  its  results ;  the  order 
of  Divine  Lives  that  come  to  the  earth  as  Messiahs. 
(E  116.) 

The  Messiahs  are  a  prophecy  for  all :  the  state  illus- 
trating the  last  and  greatest  victory  over  all  expres- 
sion in  matter;  the  entire  forgetfulness  of  self;  the 
perfect  recognition  of  the  divine  entity  in  each  Soul, 
and  the  Infinite  entity,  God.  (E  116.) 

Such  was  Jesus. 


Father,  hear  the  prayer  we  offer! 

Not  for  ease  that  prayer  shall  l>e, 
But  for  strength  that  we  may  ever 

Live  our  lives  courageously. 

Not  forever  in  green  pastures 

Do  we  ask  our  way  to  be; 
But  the  steep  and  rugged  pathway 

May  we  tread  rejoicingly. 

MRS.  L.  M.  WILLIS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

EXPLANATORY;  WHERE  THE  SINGLE  LIFE  THEORY  FAILS; 
OVERCOMING  MUST  BE  DONE  IN  EARTH  LIFE;  SEX  PRIN- 
CIPLES;  LIFE   ON   OTHER   PLANETS    PROBABLE; 
ANTIQUITY    OF    PRINCIPAL    PROPOSITIONS; 

A    HERITAGE     TO    FREEMASONRY;    CON- 
FIRMATION BY  MASONIC  AUTHORITY. 


THE  first  two  editions  of  this  book 
were  published  solely  for  gratuitous 
distribution   among  close,   personal 
friends.    Its  cordial  reception,  and  the  eager 
interest  shown  by  many  readers,  seem  to  war- 
rant a  larger  edition,  for  wider  circulation. 
Advantage  is  taken  of  this  fact  to  add  this 
chapter,  in  order  to  touch  upon  some  points 
that  appear  to  have  been  insufficiently  set 
forth. 

To  have  explained  and  expanded  all  the 
propositions  in  detail  would  have  required 
several  hundred  pages,  and  comparatively 
few  would  read  so  large  a  book  on  these  sub- 
jects. The  book  was,  therefore,  purposely 
limited  to  as  brief  and  concise  an  outline  of 
the  philosophy  as  could  be  made,  consistent 
with  clearness  of  statement.  Certain  ques- 
tions that  have  been  received,  indicate  that 
a  few  points  should  perhaps  be  made  more 
clear,  although  for  full  details  and  argu- 

139 


140  Why  Are  We  Here? 

ments  the  student  should  read  the  several 
books  quoted. 

Some  readers  seem  to  have  found  the 
paragraph  at  the  bottom  of  page  72  some- 
what obscure.  According  to  the  theory  of  a 
single  life  on  earth,  it  becomes  necessary  to 
account  for  the  inequalities  and  injustices  of 
mortal  life,  by  assuming  that  all  these  in- 
equalities and  injustices  will  be  adjusted  and 
equitably  compensated  in  the  future  life: 
that  the  babe  dying  in  infancy,  and  missing 
all  the  opportunities  of  mortal  life,  may 
achieve,  in  its  spirit  existence,  all  that  it 
might  have  done  in  a  physical  life.  We  hold 
that  this  is  not  a  logical  proposition.  If  the 
experiences  of  mortal  life  are  not  absolutely 
necessary  for  the  soul's  unfoldment,  all  hu- 
man beings  might  as  well  die  in  infancy. 

The  Soul's  development,  through  self-con- 
trol, self-mastery  and  the  overcoming  of  all 
temptations  and  trials,  can  only  be  achieved 
on  the  plane  where  those  trials  and  tempta- 
tions exist — in  physical  life.  The  doctrine  of 
Successive  Embodiments  offers  the  only  ra- 
tional solution  of  these  problems  by  giving 
every  soul  equal  privileges,  equal  opportuni- 
ties and  equal  difficulties  to  overcome. 


Why  Are  We  Here?  141 

/ 

Several  readers  have  asked,  "  Why  should 
there  be  sex  in  the  spiritual  world?"  Our 
teaching  is  that  in  the  sense  of  reproductive 
function,  there  is  no  sex  in  the  spiritual  life. 
The  masculine  and  feminine  natures  are  dis- 
tinctively different  and  are  inherent  in  the 
soul  as  masculine  and  feminine  principles,  as 
different  and  distinct  as  the  positive  and  neg- 
ative poles  of  electricity.  The  child,  as  soon 
as  it  begins  to  develop  its  nature,  shows 
clearly  and  unmistakably,  characteristics 
that  are  distinctly  masculine  or  feminine  as 
the  case  may  be,  thus  proving  that  the  sex 
principles  are  inherent.  The  same  thing  is 
noticeable  in  all  higher  animal  life.  Man  is 
so  radically  different  from  woman  in  mental 
attitude,  in  point  of  view,  in  method  of 
thought  and  action,  and  in  all  the  ways  of 
life,  that  "just  like  a  man,"  or  "just  like  a 
woman"  expresses  the  common  recognition 
of  the  essential  difference  between  the  mas- 
culine and  feminine  natures. 

Some  have  inquired  by  what  right  we  as- 
sume other  planets  to  be  inhabited,  when  we 
have  no  scientific  evidence  to  prove  it.  We 
assert  life  on  other  planets,  because  it  is  a 
reasonable  supposition  in  our  hypothesis, 


142  Why  Are  We  Here? 

and  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  evolutionary 
principles.  Modern  Science  offers  no  evi- 
dence against  such  an  assumption,  but,  on 
the  other  hand,  such  evidence  as  it  has  is  in 
its  favor,  rather  than  otherwise.  Spectrum 
analysis  shows  the  composition  of  other  plan- 
ets to  be  very  similar  to  that  of  the  earth.  It 
is  true  that  their  physical  conditions  as  to 
atmosphere,  temperature  and  moisture,  may 
be,  and  probably  are,  widely  different  from 
our  own,  but  this  fact  does  not  preclude  the 
possibility  of  human  life  adapted  to  those 
conditions,  perhaps  with  bodies  very  differ- 
ent from  those  we  now  inhabit. 

Speaking  generally,  there  are  practically 
no  natural  conditions  known  to  Science 
where  life  in  some  form  does  not  exist.  It 
is  not  unreasonable,  therefore,  nor  improb- 
able, to  suppose  human  life  existing  on  other 
planets,  even  under  conditions  which  would 
be  impossible  for  us  with  our  present  physi- 
cal organisms.  Note  the  very  latest  word  of 
Modern  Science  on  this  subject,  from  "  Cre- 
ative Evolution"  (page  256)  by  Henri  Berg- 
son  of  the  College  de  France : 

It  is  therefore  probable  that  life  goes  on  in  other 
planets,  in  other  solar  systems  also,  under  forms  of 
which  we  have  no  idea,  in  physical  conditions  to  which 


Why  Are  We  Here?  143 

it  seems  to  us,  from  the  point  of  view  of  our  physi- 
ology, to  be  absolutely  opposed.  *****  The 
truth  is  that  life  is  possible  wherever  energy  descends 
the  incline  indicated  by  Carnot's  law  *  *  *  *  * 
that  is  to  say,  probably,  in  all  the  worlds  suspended 
from  all  the  stars. 

And  now,  in  conclusion,  I  address  espe- 
cially my  Masonic  brethren.  Those  of  you 
who  have  paid  little  attention  to  Masonic  his- 
tory, lineage  and  literature,  will  probably  be 
surprised  to  learn  that  the  principal  proposi- 
tions set  forth  in  this  book  were  cardinal 
tenets  in  the  most  ancient  philosophies  of 
antiquity.  In  their  purest  form,  they  ante- 
date the  philosophies  of  Ancient  Egypt, 
Greece,  Phoenicia,  Persia,  China  and  India, 
all  of  which  contained  some  of  these  teach- 
ings in  a  perverted  form.  They  have  filtered 
down  through  the  ages,  more  or  less  cor- 
rupted by  ignorance  and  superstition, 
clothed  in  allegory  and  fabled  in  myths; 
but  the  true  doctrines,  secretly  preserved, 
through  the  Magians,  the  Eleusinian  Mys- 
teries, the  Kabalists,  the  Essenes,  the  Eosi- 
crucians,  the  Pythagoreans  and  other  secret 
orders,  have  descended  in  part  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  Masonic  order. 

Every  Mason  should  read  "  Morals  and 


144  Why  Are  We  Here? 

Dogma"  written  by  that  greatest  Masonic 
scholar,  Albert  Pike,  and  published  by  au- 
thority of  the  Supreme  Council  of  the 
Thirty-Third  Degree,  A.  A.  S.  E.,  for  the 
Southern  Jurisdiction  of  the  United  States. 
Especially  instructive  is  the  chapter  on  the 
28th  degree,  to  which  the  author  devotes  220 
pages.  It  is  impossible  to  do  more  here  than 
to  indicate  the  paths  to  be  followed  by  those 
who  seek  more  light  in  Masonry ;  but  the  fol- 
lowing quotations  may  serve  to  stimulate 
further  study  and  research  in  this  direction : 

Masonry  is  a  succession  of  allegories,  the  mere  ve- 
hicles of  great  lessons  in  morality  and  philosophy. 
You  will  more  fully  appreciate  its  spirit,  its  object, 
its  purpose,  as  you  advance  in  the  different  degrees, 
which  you  will  find  to  constitute  a  great,  complete, 
and  harmonious  system.  (L  106.) 

Masonry  has  a  history,  a  literature,  a  philosophy. 
Its  allegories  and  traditions  will  teach  you  much ;  but 
much  is  to  be  sought  elsewhere.  The  streams  of  learn- 
ing that  now  flow  full  and  broad  must  be  followed  to 
their  heads  in  the  springs  that  well  up  in  the  remote 
past,  and  you  will  there  find  the  origin  and  meaning 
of  Masonry.  (L  107.) 

"We  *  *  *  *  proclaim  the  old  primitive  truths 
that  were  known  to  the  fathers  of  our  race,  before 
men  came  to  worship  the  visible  manifestations  of  the 
Supreme  Power.  (L  584.) 


Why  Are  We  Here?  145 

The  early  nations  received  much  from  the  primeval 
source  of  sacred  traditions;  but  that  haughty  pride 
which  seems  an  inherent  part  of  human  nature,  led 
each  to  represent  these  fragmentary  relics  of  original 
truth  as  a  possession  peculiar  to  themselves;  thus  ex- 
aggerating their  value,  and  their  own  importance,  as 
peculiar  favorites  of  the  Deity,  who  had  chosen  them 
as  the  favored  people  to  whom  to  commit  these  truths. 
To  make  these  fragments,  as  far  as  possible,  their  pri- 
vate property,  they  reproduced  them  under  peculiar 
forms,  wrapped  them  up  in  symbols,  concealed  them 
in  allegories,  and  invented  fables  to  account  for  their 
own  special  possession  of  them.  So  that,  instead  of 
preserving  in  their  primitive  simplicity  and  purity, 
these  blessings  of  original  revelation,  they  overlaid 
them  with  poetical  ornament;  and  the  whole  wears  a 
fabulous  aspect,  until  by  close  and  severe  examina- 
tion, we  discover  the  truth  which  the  apparent  fable 
contains.  (L  600.) 

And  so  it  has  remained  from  that  day  to  this.  And 
so  it  will  continue  until  the  Masonic  Fraternity  shall 
make  it  possible  for  the  Great  School  to  restore  to  it 
the  "Lost  Word"  of  direct  instruction.  *  *  *  * 
But  when  this  shall  have  been  accomplished  the  Ma- 
sonic Fraternity  will  no  longer  remain  a  ' '  Speculative ' ' 
Order.  For  by  that  fact  alone  it  will  have  become 
' '  Operative, ' '  and  will  then  stand,  as  it  was  originally 
intended  to  stand,  namely,  as  the  direct  channel 
through  which  the  Spiritual  Wisdom  of  the  ages  may 
be  given  to  the  world.  (J  48.) 
So  mote  it  be. 


Hast  thou,  'midst  life's  empty  noises, 

Heard  the  solemn  steps  of  Time, 
And  the  low,  mysterious  voices 

Of  another  clime? 
Early  hath  life's  mighty  question 

Thrilled  within  thy  heart  of  youth 
With  a  deep  and  strong  beseeching, — 
What,  and  where,  is  Truth  f 

Not  to  ease  and  aimless  quiet 

Doth  the  inward  answer  tend; 
But  to  works  of  love  and  duty, 

As  our  being's  end: 
Not  to  idle  dreams  and  trances, 

Folded  hands,  and  solemn  tone; 
But  to  faith,  in  daily  striving 

And  performance  shown : 

Earnest  toil  and  strong  endeavor 

Of  a  spirit  which,  within, 
Wrestles  with  familiar  evil 

And  besetting  sin; 
And,  without,  with  tireless  vigor, 

Steady  heart,  and  purpose  strong. 
In  the  power  of  Truth  assaileth 
Every  form  of  wrong. 

JOHN  G.  WHITTIER. 


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